Petroplus is trying to silence the trade union movement in Belgium: Solidarity needed

This leaflet was written by the trade union delegation of the ABVV (socialist trade union in Belgium) at the BRC oil refinery in the port of Antwerp, Belgium. BRC is a daughter enterprise of Petroplus. This leaflet has been distributed to inform workers of the sister enterprises in Europe about the Swiss BRC direction's attempts to silence the trade unions. What they are testing in Antwerp today, could become commonplace in Petit Couronne (France), Coryton (UK), Ingolstadt (G) tomorrow!

Solidarity messages can be sent to [email protected]. Letters of protest can be sent to [email protected] (HR manager, BRC Antwerp), [email protected] (CEO Petroplus Switzerland), [email protected] (chairman of the Belgian Petrol Federation). Additional solidarity actions will be welcomed!

Swiss refinery BRC is trying to silence trade unions

On Monday, June 20, BRC sacked three members of the ABVV, two of which were protected employees, because they had participated in trade union activities during the night of June 13.

And this happened without any complaints of serious malpractice. Even worse, on June 16, the Belgian Petroleum Federation declared in the bureau of reconciliation that the bosses wouldn�t take action against trade union activities concerning the sectoral labour negotiations. Everybody knows that the petroleum sector has a long history of trade union actions during such negotiations. The bosses themselves often refer to them as symbolic actions that they don�t have any real problems with, as long as general safety is not jeopardised.

Apparently the Swiss director of BRC prefers not to descend from its Swiss mountain top and is intent on destroying the trade union traditions in the sector. Repercussions are being taken, trade unions must be silenced. This is a Swiss mentality that has been dominant at BRC for years. All means are acceptable, even the sacking of employees without any hint of serious malpractice. The high price it has to pay for that is not a problem for BRC. Or maybe that�s the reason why BRC is so stingy during the sectoral negotiations?

All of this clearly shows that BRC is trying to dismantle the unions in the petroleum sector. These last few hours they have even considered starting an alarm ringing procedure, which goes against all of the Belgian laws.

BRC�s attitude is endangering the entire trade union and all union liberties that exist.

We demand that BRC immediately reinstates and reintegrates the sacked workers and puts an end to its policies of terror.

In order to reinforce this demand there will be another action on Thursday, June 30, 2011, at the BRC gates. Starting at 6 A.M., Rudy De Leeuw, chairman of the ABVV, will be present to support the trade unionists and workers. National and federal trade union secretaries will also be there to support them.

Stand up for our union rights! We mobilise in great numbers for a national action on June 30, starting at 6 A.M., at the BRC gates, Scheldelaan 490, 2040 Antwerp Harbour 663.