Jones Engineering in Belgium: MEPs support Unite campaign against union-busting
**_Unions and parliamentarians raise ‘social dumping’ concerns_**
**_Jones warned not to export shoddy labour practices_**
Belgian trade unionists and MEPs joined Unite this week in Charleroi to send a clear message to Irish company Jones Engineering: Union-busting will not be tolerated. As part of the General Labour Federation of Belgium – FGTB’s day of action against social dumping, a protest was held at the Google site in Farciennes, just east of Charleroi, where Jones Engineering is a sub-contractor.
In addition to Unite representatives, speakers included MEPs Estelle Ceulemans and Johan Danielsson from the European Parliament Committee on Employment and Social Affairs as well as FGTB National Secretary Arnaud Lévêque.
Unite has been in dispute with Jones since 2023, when union members took industrial action in pursuit of a claim for ‘travel time’ restoration. Instead of engaging with Unite to resolve the issues in dispute, Jones Engineering pursued the union and – in an unprecedented move – individual named shop stewards through the courts.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: **_“This week’s day of action against social dumping sends a clear message: The union movement will make sure there is no hiding place for companies engaged in anti-union activities. Multinational companies must remember that workers are organised globally and will not tolerate union-busting”._**
Notwithstanding court defeats and an OECD finding that a complaint submitted by Unite and the global federation Building and Woodworkers International in respect of Jones Engineering and its US parent merits further consideration, the company refuses to engage meaningfully with Unite to resolve matters. Instead, Jones has continued a campaign of anti-union activities against Unite.
Speaking in Belgium, Unite regional officer James McCabe said: **_“Ireland’s upcoming EU Presidency has been touted as an opportunity to showcase the best of Irish business. It’s unfortunate that Unite members in Jones have been left with no option but to take their fight to Brussels and highlight anti-union activities by an Irish business. European unions are very clear: Jones will not be allowed to export its shoddy labour practices”._**
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