On Thursday, the trade unions and the management of AGC Fleurus met to take stock of the situation. It has not really changed: SA Splifar, specializing in subcontracting work for the automotive glass sector, is now alone in the running. It was followed, this Friday, by a staff information meeting.
As a reminder, AGC evolves within the bosom of the Strazzante group. It has already established a long-standing partnership with AGC. “We have had confirmation that discussions are continuing. But even if successful, this solution would only save around fifty jobs,” says Kevin Peeters, deputy regional secretary of the Centrale Générale FGTB-Charleroi.
Last February, AGC Automotive Belgium announced its intention to close the Fleurus plant. The deadline is set for September 2023. For the 187 workers concerned, the deadline is fast approaching.
Several avenues have been explored to maintain industrial activity and as many jobs as possible on the site. Among them, the automobile group Punch, which planned to develop hydrogen engines there. This operation would have saved the entire staff. Unfortunately, the Flemish group threw in the towel last June.
This week, in the Economy Committee of the Parliament of Wallonia, answering a question from Ecolo deputy Christophe Clersy on the progress of the file, Minister Borsus specifies that AGC is continuing discussions “with another serious candidate”.