EU Autoworkers Demonstrate In Brussels To Protest Layoff Threats

Thousands of workers took to the streets of the Belgian capital on Monday to protest against the potential for massive layoffs at a state-of-the-art Brussels car factory.

The protest was triggered by German automaker Audi's announcement that it would phase out production at its Forest plant in southern Brussels. I Photo: European Trade Union e-action of ACV-CSC-Belgium X

The plant has become symbolic of the key industries across the European Union (EU) calling for greater government support amid global competition, Raf Casert and Mark Carlson reported for the Associated Press (AP).

Monday's protest, which police estimated drew 5,500 people, was triggered by German automaker Audi's announcement that it would phase out production at its Forest plant in southern Brussels.

This decision threatens the jobs of 3,000 workers, many of whom are skilled in electronic vehicle production—a sector the EU is striving to promote to remain competitive with China and the US.

“What is happening at Audi could also happen at other factories. We need to act to protect these industries,” said Salvatore Tabone, who has worked at Audi for 27 years and now faces the prospect of losing his job.

“After all our efforts, this is the reward we get,” he lamented. ACV union representative Lieve De Preter added, “This is not an isolated case. Major industries across Belgium have been affected over the past year.”