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BRUSSELS - At least 15,000 demonstrators marched through Brussels in protest at planned job cuts at the Belgian factory of German carmaker Volkswagen.
Brussels residents and trade unionists from across Europe, including Germany, joined almost the entire 5000 workforce of the affected plant, shouting "We want jobs", whistling, throwing firecrackers and carrying coffins.
Volkswagen said two weeks ago it would end manufacture of its top-selling Golf at its plant in Brussels, reducing the workforce from about 5000 to 1500. The news prompted a strike.
A deal brokered by Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt to bring production of a small new Audi to Brussels and save about 3000 jobs has softened Belgian anger.
Francis Wurtz, French European Parliament member and head of the parliament's left bloc, said multinationals were making European workers fight each other and accept ever worse conditions.
- REUTERS
