83 Delhaize supermarket shops did not open their doors to customers on Thursday as the protest against franchising the 128 Belgian outlets that remained under direct company management. Yet the other 45 self-owned supermarkets are accessible, spokesman Roel Dekelver reported.
This mainly concerns shops in Wallonia and Brussels that remain closed as staff are protesting against the supermarket chain's plans announced last week to turn all 128 shops under its own management into franchises. Doing so would result in lesser working and wage conditions for Delhaize staff, something trade unions will not accept.
Delhaize hopes that more shops will open in the coming days. The fact that shops remain closed damages the company and its future, Deklever said.
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On Tuesday, the company reported some 95 closed outlets. The first social consultation on the plans took place that day, but the meeting lasted just 15 minutes as management ignored statements of opposition to the franchise plan, forcing the unions to walk out. They again called for the franchise plans to be dropped.
Over a thousand staff members had descended on the Delhaize buildings in Zellik (Asse) for a protest following the consultation.
