At VDL Nedcar, employees demonstrated on Tuesday against the occupation of the nearby Sterrebos. The felling of that forest is essential for the future or even the survival of VDL Nedcar. There is a lot at stake, as is clear from first hand.
It has been restless for days around VDL Nedcar near Born. The car factory wants to expand production capacity at the expense of the nearby Sterrebos. Extensive plans for this were provisionally approved by the Provincial Council at the end of 2020. However, a group of activists does not want to leave it at that and prevent the forest from going flat at all costs. It would be of ‘essential ecological value’ for several reasons. The group ‘Save the Sterrebos’ wants Nedcar to move to another location and a group of activists therefore entrenched themselves in the trees in the Sterrebos from Friday.
Although almost all of those activists are now gone and several have been arrested, the VDL Nedcar staff is not feeling well. AutoWeek learns from insiders that emotions sometimes run high among employees. After all, a lot depends on it. At one point, there would have been shouting back and forth between factory workers and the activists in the trees. Some would also prefer to personally pull the gentlemen and ladies out of the trees. It has not come to that, but on Tuesday afternoon the VDL Nedcar site is the scene of a dissenting voice. Workers demonstrate against the occupation of Sterrebos, led by various trade unions.
Rivian seems almost ready
It not only affects people directly on the production line, AutoWeek learns from insiders, but also senior management who are working hard to secure a future for VDL Nedcar. AutoWeek understands that the talks with ‘a new client’ (no doubt Rivian) are already at such an advanced stage that a production contract can be scrapped very soon, were it not for the fact that the trammelt around the Sterrebos is now playing up again. The expansion of capacity is essential to win the deal.
That deal not only puts an end to job insecurity for those who already work at VDL Nedcar, but it would even be good news for people who would like to work there. The expansion of the production capacity also involves a significant increase in new staff. Reportedly, up to 8,000 people could eventually start working at VDL Nedcar, now about 4,200 are employed.
Avoiding is not an option
According to the activists, it could all go ahead if VDL Nedcar just builds an extra factory in a different location. It’s not that simple, our source emphasizes: “Placing a factory somewhere else is not easy. That also has to do with logistics. It is not as if VDL Nedcar spends millions for the hobby to clear trees.” And, according to an employee representative during the demonstration on Tuesday afternoon: “The felling of the forest is necessary to bring in that new customer. We must use this existing infrastructure to secure the future of Nedcar.”
The Council of State will make a decision on the felling of the Sterrebos by 23 February at the latest. If approved, VDL Nedcar wants to put the saw in the forest as soon as possible, because felling is no longer allowed from 1 March due to the breeding season. The activists who were there from Friday will no longer be there, but they might protest again. At VDL Nedcar, it is hoped that it will not come to that and it is realized how great the interests are not only for the company but also for so many mostly local families.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl