2023-11-13 06:37:00
Twenty-six years after the closure of the forges, Clabecq workers are still waiting for the balance of their salaries. Twenty million euros remain to be distributed among the 2,200 former workers, employees and managers of the factory. The end of the tunnel was near, a court hearing was to be held this Monday, before the State got involved.
The workers of the Clabecq forges will still have to wait to recover the compensation claimed…
1 Historical reminder
On January 3, 1997, the bankruptcy of the Clabecq forges was made official. But 26 years later, it is not completely closed. Former trade unionists are still mobilizing to ensure that workers’ rights are respected. For them, it is not normal that even today, forge workers have only received 47% of their compensation. “They still owe us all 20 million euros”declares Silvio Marra, former union representative at Clabecq. “Who are all of them? They are the 1,810 workers, 300 employees and 100 managers”he then explains.
2 A blocked debt
This amount, 20 million euros in arrears, corresponds to the value of 11 hectares of land in Vilvoorde, belonging to the Clabecq forges. A trial was to be held on appeal this Monday, but it was postponed for more than a year, since the State wishes to recover the entire amount. However, it would have made it possible to compensate workers. “From the beginning, it has been preventing workers from accessing what was due to them, and preventing them from being the first creditors, and the first to be paid”says Françoise Thirionet, activist. “Since the curatorship has managed the possessions of the Clabecq forges, each time there has been money, the State has said ‘I want this money, I have priority’ and each time the workers have not not received their due.”
3 Collateral damage
During the time of the forges, many people died like the father of Fabian Defraine, interviewed by the RTL info team. He lost his life following several cancers linked to asbestos pollution from the factory. Beyond the financial stakes of this affair, it is also very symbolic. “We’re walking on our heads, actually!”he laments. “Not only have workers paid for their health, but for more than 25 years now, we have refused to pay them what they are entitled to.”
Also read The workers of the Forges de Clabecq did not receive all their compensation
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