Delhaize wants to transfer all stores to self-employed: 12 in West Flanders, all closed due to staff strike

It concerns three stores in Bruges, two stores in Kortrijk, two in Ostend, 1 in Izegem, 1 in Roeselare, 1 in Ypres, 1 in Blankenberge and 1 in Knokke-Heist.

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Delhaize owns 128 supermarkets where thousands of people work. “Shocking, this hits hard,” said ACLVB Secretary Wilson Wellens. “128 stores are being divested to franchise. This is much worse than expected.”

According to ACLVB, there are at least 8,000 employees involved, BBTK says that it concerns more than 9,000 people. According to Wellens, those employees will be transferred to independent entrepreneurs. In the first instance, according to Wellens, the wages and working conditions will be maintained, but what will happen afterwards is the question. He points out that the independent stores are doing better than the stores under their own management.

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“This is a bomb, an attack on personnel”

“This is a bomb. An attack against the staff,” says BBTK secretary Jan De Weghe. “A disgrace.” The staff will transfer to the franchise stores, but the terms of employment there are less, it is still said.