Around 100 people, made up of employees of the Delhaize supermarket chain and activists from the CNE trade union, demonstrated outside 16 rue de la Loi in Brussels on Friday morning.
The protestors demanded to be received by Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo in order to negotiate an immediate moratorium on the franchising of Delhaize supermarket locations.
The demonstrators used whistles, banners and smoke bombs to bring attention to their cause in front of the seat of the Belgian government, which meets every Friday morning for a council of ministers. However, this meeting is being held remotely this Friday.
Delhaize workers and CNE activists have called for a meeting with the federal government to demand action against Delhaize's decision to franchise all of its 128 stores. They want an immediate moratorium on any purchase of these supermarkets by independent operators.
The police try to remove protesters during a protest of Delhaize trade union members, in front of the government headquarters at the Wetstraat 16 - 16 Rue de la Loi, in Brussels, Friday 30 June 2023. BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK
They also demanded that the government “enforce the spirit of the laws intended to protect workers.” The rally, called “ civil disobedience” by the union leaders, was organised in a neutral zone, a perimeter where any demonstration is normally prohibited.
The police cleared the area calmly after about thirty minutes and the demonstrators continued their action at the Arts-Loi crossroads. A CNE delegation was able to visit the Prime Minister's office to put forward its demands. The protest ended after 12:00.
