There is dismay among the staff at Van Hool in Koningshooikt, now that the bus manufacturer has announced that it wants to cut 1,116 jobs over the next four years. No major actions are planned yet, but work will not resume today.
Ever since Marc Zwaaneveld came on board at Van Hool as co-CEO in mid-January, the staff knew that a major round of layoffs would follow at the bus manufacturer. The Dutchman had previously been appointed as crisis manager at Greenyard and waste processor Van Gansewinkel, where he led a restructuring in each case. But that doesn’t make the blow any less today, employees tell our reporter on site. The number of layoffs – more than 1,100 – is even higher than some expected, they say on the way out. The atmosphere never became grim, but was mainly resigned. “We hope to find another job soon,” says one of the workers on the way out.
“I didn’t expect this,” says 58-year-old Wim as he leaves the factory. “The disappointment is great. People do want to work, but the desire is no longer there. When I started here we were making 5 or 6 buses a week. Today there is 1. Then you will know. If the government and the banks come up with money, the company can still be saved. This is especially important for the young people here.”
(Read more below the photo)
“If the government and the banks come up with money, the company can still be saved,” says Wim. — © Joren De Weerdt
“All the money goes to Macedonia,” sighs Walter (58). “That is Van Hool’s decision. Then I certainly hope that no money will come from the government to support production in Macedonia. If there is still money, I hope it will be used to support the people who are losing their jobs today. If I lose my job later, I will find something else. I am confident about that. I have seen things deteriorate here for eighteen years. Everyone saw that they had been reducing activities for years.”
(Continue reading below the video)
The unions believe in the future of the company, but emphasize that things will have to move quickly. “The deadline is March 31. So we must be able to reach an agreement very quickly. Our backs are against the wall, but we will try to retain and anchor as many jobs as possible.”
The Christian trade union ACV calls for “the necessary chauvinism”. According to the ACV, political attention for the manufacturing industry has faded. “It is clear that we face major and difficult challenges and negotiations in the coming period,” says Kim Samison of ACV. “But, with the belief in the expertise of our employees, we will fight together for our future in Koningshooikt.”
The Voka Mechelen-Kempen department calls on the Flemish government to quickly set up an employment cell. This should result in 500 people being able to work in the vehicle sector again in the short term. “In the longer term, we are looking at the broader 7,500 vacancies in the region,” says Tom Laveren of Voka Mechelen-Kempen.