A bailiff visited the Benepack can factory in Genk again on Monday morning following the breakdown of talks over workload issues between management and striking workers.
The bailiff arrived to document the site blockades with photographs, as production has come to a complete halt. ABVV union representative Raf Dal Cero anticipates a new court order to be issued later today to reopen access to the factory. “Management provokes us by filming and sending a bailiff. We also notice an increasing presence of Chinese individuals attempting to break the strike,” remarked the union official.
Workers are particularly upset by the management’s refusal, under orders from the Chinese owners, to resume negotiations. The strike, now in its second week, began after the night shift stopped work to protest against excessive workload and unsafe conditions. Last Wednesday, the strikers received an initial court order from the bailiff to dismantle the blockades and allow willing workers through.
The situation further escalated on Friday as the local management announced they would not meet the unions’ various demands. As the previous court order required entrances to remain clear until Sunday evening, blockades were re-established Monday morning.
Dal Cero expressed, “They’re only fuelling the anger. I’ve never seen such determination on day seven of a strike. They’re just pouring oil on the fire. They also claim they can’t pay salaries if they can’t enter the premises, while the office staff can work from home.”
