Socialist union ABVV, says it will do everything its power to stop “even a screwdriver” leaving Ford’s Genk factory in Belgium, as news emerges of talks between the automaker and Punch Metals imploding.
Punch was looking to secure up to 200 jobs at the Genk site – which is now entering the final days of production ahead of closure next week – but has been thwarted by Ford’s insistence no viable business plan had been put forward despite the stamper’s claim of an improved offer.
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Ford is not directly saying it was in talks with Punch – preferring to refer to “interested parties” – but the stamping operation confirmed to just-auto from its headquarters negotiations had failed.
However, such is the union anger at a chance for even 200 jobs out of Genk’s 4,300 to be saved, the ABVV says it is mounting a blockade today of an entrance to the plant.
“I blocked the transport of every press that was ready to ship out starting this morning,” ABVV regional president, Rohnny Champagne, told just-auto from Belgium.
“I told the vice presidents I will do everything in my power to stop even a screwdriver leaving the plant. That is a blockade – nothing is moving.”
A reliable source confirmed to just-auto Ford had been talking to Punch for nine months, but that negotiations to secure a stamping future had now ended.
“That door is now closed,” said the source. “People have tried to get to a point with this, but at the end of the day, there has not been a business case.”
“That [offer] is 100% finished,” a Punch spokesman told just-auto from the stamper’s headquarters in Hamont-Achel in Belgium. “We are disappointed, especially [as] we improved our offer.
“The Flemish government completely supported that project, but at the end we needed a consensus with three parties, which made it more complex.”
Ford noted “no viable plan has been presented” to give it confidence to provide long-term employment.
