Police ended a trade union action at the Delhaize distribution centre in Zellik (just outside of the Brussels-Capital Region) at around 05:00 on Thursday morning. According to management, the action was by externals and work was going on in the distribution centre as usual.
The unions had set up at the distribution centre at 20:00 on Wednesday evening, preventing trucks from entering and leaving the site. According to management, they were standing on a public road.
"First we had a bailiff come, but that did not work. Then the local police were called," said Delhaize spokesperson Roel Dekelver. The police ended the action.
No one was injured
"This was done in a heavy-handed way, to ensure that about eight trucks could leave the distribution centre," said CNE union representative Elisabeth Lovecchio. "However, our action, in joint union front, was very peaceful." No one was injured in the intervention.
According to Dekelver, work was carried out at the depot during the action, but no transports could happen. The company is trying to make up for the delays in the coming hours and days, he said. "We deeply regret this action," said another spokesperson. "This has an impact on the company, employees and suppliers."
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Meanwhile, 43 Delhaize shops in Brussels and Wallonia remain closed on Thursday due to union action. Delhaize said it is sending bailiffs to shops where there are many workers but some people are blocking the entrance.
The social conflict has been at a stalemate for weeks. Management is sticking to its plan to leave 128 shops to self-employed workers, while unions want that plan off the table to ensure their members are not subject to lower wages or working conditions. A social mediator is at work. On 18 April, the mediator will meet for the first time with management and unions together.
