Delhaize management breaks off strike at 7 West Flemish branches with police and bailiffs

On Saturday morning, union pickets prevented customers from making purchases in seven West Flemish Delhaize stores. This until 11 am, because then the strike picket was canceled by bailiffs and police officers with a court order.

PENALTY PAYMENT OF € 1,000 PER DAY

The union activists were no longer allowed to prevent customers from making their purchases and risked having to pay a fine of 1,000 euros per day.

This was the case in Sint-Pieters Bruges, among others. The court order that Wouter Parmentier, trade union representative for ACV Food and Services, received there applies to seven West Flemish branches. In addition to the three stores in Bruges, there are branches in Blankenberge, Ypres, Knokke-Heist and Ostend. Parmentier is not allowed to set foot in any of those stores for the time being.

Any actions in the future?

The ACV’ers see two possible options for the future: either the management should cancel its decision to franchise all Delhaize stores to independent operators or the staff should receive guarantees after the takeover. “Then we are talking about guarantees of work, of good timetables and of the same remuneration,” explains Parmentier. “We hope to hear from you soon, if not we will plan further actions”, it sounds.