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27 November, 2006
ExxonMobil workers in Belgium returned to work on 21 November after a week-long strike in protest of the unfair dismissal of five workers at a refinery in Virton. Work continued inside the refinery behind closed plant gates, preventing any trucks from driving in or out.
On 23 November, workers were forced to reopen the gates after the company had sought and won a legal injunction. According to Belgian union representatives, industrial actions will continue as workers pledge to do whatever it takes to get the US-based oil multinational to respect their rights.
The spontaneous strike started when it became known that the five workers had been dismissed for “not respecting the ethics of the company.” Reportedly, the workers were found to have exchanged pornographic e-mails. In addition to the five employees that were dismissed, ten others were temporarily suspended for four days.
While acknowledging that company e-mail networks are not to be used for distribution of erotic material, ICEM affiliated unions from both national centres, FGTB and CSC, claim management’s reaction was completely out of proportion. The dismissals are extreme and drastic punishments, condemning workers and their families to hardship. The unions contend that ExxonMobil has suffered no moral or financial harm as a result of the e-mails.
The unions’ statement said that there are privacy laws in Belgium which ExxonMobil can not violate. Workers and unions denounced the company’s radical position on the matter, saying it can, under no circumstances, agree with a company that believes it owns the right to decide what is right and what is wrong.
The unions have taken the matter to court and demand the reinstatement of the workers. They also call on ExxonMobil to bring its “code” before the unions for discussion. The code, FGTB and CSC believes, must conform to Belgian law.