Today a second reconciliation attempt is taking place at Delhaize. Yesterday evening, a day before the important meeting, a video message from CEO Xavier Piesvaux for the staff suddenly appeared on Delhaize’s company intranet, writes the ‘RTBF’. Since the announcement that Delhaize plans to privatize its 128 stores, it had not really been heard. In a nine-minute video, Piesvaux argues that the franchise plan is the only option. He further says that he understands that there is reaction and even frustration, but states that “in addition to the right to strike, the right to work must also be respected”. “That is why we will continue to guarantee access to our stores,” it sounds.
At Delhaize, nine of the 128 stores under own management are not accessible to customers on Saturday, Delhaize spokesman Roel Dekelver reported earlier in the day. It concerns three stores in Flanders, three in Brussels and three in Wallonia. The staff are still protesting against the plans to privatize the 128 own stores. “There is no impact on the depots,” the spokesperson added.
Social conflict
At the beginning of March, Delhaize announced its intention to have the 128 stores operated by independents. Since then, a serious social conflict has raged at the retailer, with many stores closing their doors, for example – although the number of store closures per day has clearly decreased. Bailiffs meanwhile break up strike posts that are still being erected.
Rock solid
Social dialogue has been deadlocked since the announcement. Three special works councils failed to yield results last month, after which Minister of Work Pierre-Yves Dermagne sent a social mediator from the FPS Work into the field. A first reconciliation meeting at the FPS Work failed last Tuesday. On Saturday afternoon, the unions and management will meet for a second reconciliation meeting led by the social mediator. Delhaize hopes that the consultation will go smoothly and that the intention can be discussed.
When the stores were taken over by independent operators, management guaranteed the retention of wages and working conditions for the 9,000 employees involved, and CEO Xavier Piesvaux emphasized this again in his video message last night. But the trade unions have serious doubts about this.
“The only option”
Also in his video message, Piesvaux reminds, according to the RTBF, that the much-discussed franchise plan “is aimed at guaranteeing the future of the company”, since “the results of our supermarkets (under own management, ed.) have continuously deteriorated in recent years ”. For the manager, the solution lies clearly and unambiguously in independently affiliated stores. After all, the group of independent stores at Delhaize is “advancing in terms of sales, market share and also profitability for Delhaize but also for the stores themselves”, while the “converse” is happening with the supermarkets under own management.
The CEO emphasizes the need for a calm and constructive dialogue with the social partners. He concludes with the words: “I am 100 percent convinced that the Future Plan (the franchis plan, ed.) is the only option to guarantee a sustainable future for our company, our stores, our partners and our employees”.
Is the CEO telling us that there is no point in negotiating?
“Slap in the face”
Several French-speaking trade union representatives are dissatisfied with the video message on RTBF. “How can he say the franchise plan is the only option if another reconciliation meeting is going on in a matter of hours? Is the CEO telling us that there is no point in negotiating?”, a delegate who wishes to remain anonymous so as not to escalate the situation sounds bewildered.
Another deputy speaks of “a slap in the face” to all staff who are still hoping for a gesture of openness from management. Yet another says he is “disappointed”. A cashier who has been on strike since the beginning of the conflict speaks of “a new provocation”. “I am speechless,” she says.
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