International solidarity is key
Ford workers in Belgium fight for jobs
By John Catalinotto
A struggle for jobs unfolding in Belgium will
affect workers throughout the global capitalist economy,
especially auto workers.
Union confederations and community and political groups are
mobilizing in Belgium in an attempt to save thousands of jobs
at the Ford automobile factory in the town of Genk. They plan a
mass march on Oct. 18, expected to draw tens of thousands of
workers and supporters.
Since Oct. 1, when Ford announced that 3,000 of the 8,300
jobs at the plant would be cut, there have been two 24-hour
walkouts--on Oct. 6 and Oct. 10. Workers have blocked
deliveries at the plant gates, burning tires and debris.
With Ford workers facing 12,000 layoffs throughout North
America and Europe, the workers at Ford-Genk are on the front
lines of a major class battle.
Belgium has both a French and a Flemish-speaking population.
Genk is in a mostly Flemish area. Many of the workers at the
Ford plant are immigrants, the largest groups from Italy and
Turkey.
The entire region has been plagued by unemployment for
decades. Ford is the last major factory in the area. A Philips
Electronics plant closed in 2002.
Along with the 3,000 jobs at the plant, another 2,000 to
3,000 jobs at sub-contractors would disappear. This loss of
jobs would depress the entire region. And it is likely that
Ford would soon close the entire plant.
Between 1993 and 2000, the Ford Motor Co. made $56 billion
in profits. Now facing a drop in sales worldwide and especially
in Europe, Ford wants to dump all its losses on the
workers.
A few thousand workers pitted against a giant transnational
monopoly like Ford is an uneven battle. The workers can only
win such a battle if it is turned into a political struggle
that mobilizes the entire population. And it needs
international solidarity and support.
Belgium has a government led by the Socialist Party. Though
this party is called socialist, in reality it manages the
capitalist Belgian economy for the bosses, both local and
foreign. It has never taken on a monopoly like Ford. But to
keep some support from the workers, this government has
promised to create 200,000 jobs to relieve the high
unemployment in Belgium. So it is caught in a contradiction
between words and deeds.
The Workers Party of Belgium has intervened in this struggle
on the side of the threatened Ford workers. In a statement
calling for international solidarity, the WPB points out that
"Ford-Genk had signed a collective bargaining agreement with
the trade unions in October 2002. This agreement should
guarantee the maintenance of 9,000 jobs at Ford until 2006.
"Ford-Genk had also concluded an agreement with the
government of the Flemish Region (the north of Belgium) for 900
million euro ($1.05 billion) worth of investments in Genk. It
concerned the start-up of four simultaneous production lines:
for the new Mondeo, the Focus, the Galaxy and the Cross Over."
In return, the Flemish regional government handed Ford 53
million euros--that's $62 million--in tax breaks.
"Ford must be forced to respect the two agreements it
signed. With all its energy, the Workers' Party of Belgium and
militant trade unionists will fight for this, together with the
workers."
Solidarity from U.S. workers
In response to the appeal for international solidarity, some
members of the United Auto Workers in the United States have
sent the following statement to the workers at Genk:
"In the spirit of international solidarity, as UAW members
in the U.S., we wish to salute your splendid and creative
struggle to challenge the Ford dynasty. Your determination to
fight the layoffs at the Genk Ford plant is an inspiration to
UAW ranks here, who face massive layoffs and plant closings due
to the four-year UAW contract signed with the Big Three auto
tycoons and their suppliers.
"Their decision to close plants and lay off thousands of
auto workers worldwide can be stopped only by building
international solidarity and organizing creative resistance.
Your struggle in Genk is a significant contribution to this
development. We stand with you in this fight for economic and
social justice, and will do all we can to contribute to this
worthy perspective."
The statement was signed by Martha Grevatt, UAW Local 122,
Cleveland, Dianne Mathiowetz, UAW Local 10, Doraville, Ga., and
David Sole, president, UAW Local 2334, Detroit.
Solidarity messages can be emailed to foerd@gvhv.be.
Reprinted from the Oct. 23, 2003, issue of
Workers World newspaper
This article is copyright under a Creative
Commons License.
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