2023-04-22 16:38:00
The meeting, which lasted two and a half hours, was the second attempt at mediation between the unions and Delhaize officials since March 7. Delhaize then announced that it wanted to franchise all of the 128 stores held so far under its own management.
The meeting allowed the unions to denounce the “intolerable behavior” of the lion chain with regard to workers and the right to strike, according to Myriam Delmée.
The interlocutors then got to the heart of the matter. “Is there an alternative to the franchise? Are they ready to start a Renault procedure? The answer is no,” summed up the Setca representative.
The unions regret that the only possibility of negotiation, with the head of the management, relates to the methods and the measures of accompaniment of the workers.
The workers’ representatives feel that the social dialogue has no value in the eyes of the management of the supermarket group.
The meeting started at 2:00 p.m. and ended around 5:30 p.m.
Delhaize: “We are faced with a much tougher vision of capitalism, which we are not used to in Belgium”
In a statement, Delhaize also reports a failure. The chain “reaffirmed during the meeting that it wanted to discuss measures aimed at dispelling the uncertainties of workers”, she said. “Delhaize has, however, reaffirmed that the current plan is the only possible option to relaunch growth in the 128 supermarkets and thus ensure a sustainable future for Delhaize and its employees.”
But for unions, franchising stores will inevitably mean job losses. “Delhaize gets rid of the workers and we know very well that followingwards, it is the franchisee who will do the job of dismissal”, affirmed Myriam Delmée.
The next meeting between management and union representatives is the works council which was already scheduled for Monday 24 April. Delhaize says it wants to “continue the dialogue”.
“Integrated commerce represents 100,000 workers in Belgium. What we would miss here, we will suffer in other businesses”, underlined Myriam Delmée, who still hopes for the start of a Renault procedure and real negotiations.
A strike movement has affected the company since the announcement of the franchise project, which has angered employees and led to the closure of a large number of supermarkets. However, this number has decreased significantly over the weeks. On Saturday, nine of Delhaize’s 128 owned stores kept their doors closed.
Meeting the staff of Belgium’s largest Delhaize: “We will go all the way. We have no choice”
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