As was predicted last week, the strike actions in numerous Delhaize stores across Belgium have continued, with almost 100 shops keeping their doors closed on Monday in response to the company's decision to franchise all company-owned shops.
On Tuesday last week, Belgian supermarket chain Delhaize announced that it would be transforming the 128 remaining stores that it currently directly manages into franchises, due to the strong performance of franchised outlets. The move was widely condemned by the Belgian union BBTK, which said that this was the "downgrading of the working conditions of all employees."
On that same day, Delhaize put out a press release detailing the longterm impact franchising will have for customers. The direct impact was clear, as it spurred employees at more than 100 stores nationwide to go on strike, an action which continued on Monday in most shops.
"Today, 94 stores are closed and inaccessible to shoppers, while 34 have opened their doors. In Brussels specifically, most stores will be closed," Delhaize's spokesperson Roel Dekelver told The Brussels Times. At the company's distribution centre, business is running like usual for the time being.
It has not yet been disclosed how much loss in turnover the actions have already had on the company.
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Last week Friday, the Walloon government met with trade unions of supermarket chain Delhaize, in Namur. On Tuesday, unions and Delhaize's management will sit around the table in Asse to discuss a possible solution for moving forward.
During the council, workers will be present in large numbers to demand that the plan be withdrawn, BBTK noted in a press release on Monday. "The workers have been on an emotional rollercoaster ever since. We cannot accept this unjust decision," it noted.
BBTK argued that Delhaize is not a loss-making company, referring to the fact its CEO's salary was increased recently, adding that there are "other ways to boost sales and achieve growth" that don't involve "leaving loyal employees in the cold."
