For workers at the Belgian Tupperware factory in Aalst (East Flanders), today is the last day of work. After 63 years, the factory is closing. Some 270 people will lose their jobs, but there is still a lot of uncertainty. ‘Nothing is still known about the severance payments. It is an unprecedented situation,’ says Jan Holtyzer of socialist trade union ABVV.
Around 30 workers started their very last morning shift at the Tupperware factory this morning. Today the curtain falls on the plastic receptacles factory. The US parent company ran into difficulty last year due to mounting debts.
The producer has been in financial straits for years. Earlier this year, several lenders took over the parent company. They want to continue to operate in only eight of the 67 markets worldwide. What will happen with the others is unclear.
After today the Aalst plant will no longer be able to work under a licence from Tupperware’s US headquarters. The unions say there is still a lot of uncertainty. ‘It still remains to be seen what will happen with the people in Aalst. As yet, the US management has not filed for bankruptcy,’ says Jan Holtyzer of ABVV.
This also means that nothing yet is known about possible severance payments. ‘Above all, there is a lot of uncertainty and anger among the workforce. Tupperware Belgium has always done a very good job and new products were always made in Belgium first because of our knowledge and expertise. But now the workers are being thrown out with the garbage.’
At 10 am, the unions meet the local management. ‘We are going to see if we can't involve a court in Belgium so they can declare a bankruptcy,’ Holtyzer says.