The trade unions at supermarket chain Delhaize continue to support the actions of the staff. According to trade unionist Frank Convents (ACV Puls), the unions decided this in a common front on Tuesday evening, after consultations with the management ended quickly earlier in the day. According to the unions, 280 jobs are at risk at the central services.
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The management is sticking to its plan to privatize the 128 supermarkets under its own management, the unions want that plan to be withdrawn. According to Myriam Delmée of the socialist employees’ union SETCa, the unions have agreed on an action plan that they want to develop in the coming weeks.
“We are determined to have the management withdraw the plan in its entirety,” said Delmée. “The common front, workers and servants, is stronger than ever. All the more so because Delhaize’s plans would also include the elimination of 247 jobs in central services.”
LOOK. Consultations between the trade union and the Delhaize management have yielded nothing
“Collective redundancies”
A figure that also confirms Convents. “That is stated on one of the slides that the management has shown. Some 280 jobs would disappear with the plan for the privatization of the supermarkets, of which 247 people from the company’s own staff and a number of external employees. In that case, it seems to be a collective redundancy and the Renault Law should apply.”
The union representatives have therefore agreed on an action plan about which they do not want to give details yet. The scoop will be for staff and management, it sounds. “In the coming days we will communicate it to the employees,” says Delmée.
Impact on earnings
Convents indicates that the willingness to take action is very high among supermarket staff. “Activation does, of course, have an impact on income,” said the trade unionist. “We will therefore examine in consultation with the staff what actions are possible and whether they can be spread.”
Trade unions and management had met for the first time on Tuesday morning since the management’s announcement a week ago about the plan to privatize the supermarkets. But that meeting was already over after fifteen minutes. The unions fear that about 9,000 employees will receive less good wages and working conditions as a result of the plan. Many supermarkets have therefore been on strike in recent days.
The next meeting between unions and management is scheduled for next Tuesday.
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