The meeting at Delhaize, during which management announced the transfer of 15 stores to independent buyers, went poorly: someone reportedly deliberately set off the fire alarm, after which the building was evacuated.
The first 15 of Delhaize's 128 supermarkets will be taken over by independent operators, with the reopening as franchised shops planned for October and November, the management announced on Monday morning.
However, this is not what the unions had hoped for, BBTK secretary Katrien Degryse told Belga News Agency. They had hoped that the management "would adjust the plans after opposition from the unions and criticism from independents of the takeover terms," but the management continued on the same momentum.
"We are angry and disgusted," said Myriam Delmée, President of the Setca union, following Delhaize's announcement that 15 supermarkets were to be taken over by independents.
Delhaize has 'no intention of negotiating'
"But all this was to be expected, since the company had the option of franchising its shops from 15 August," she said. "And the accompanying measures promised in the aftermath are no more than cosmetic arrangements."
Delhaize's management and the unions met on Monday for another "somewhat tumultuous" works council meeting. According to management, someone deliberately set off the fire alarm, causing the building to be evacuated.
"There was verbal violence, and an entrance door was damaged. We regret that. We want a serene debate," said Delhaize spokesperson Roel Dekelver. Whether management will file a complaint is not yet clear.
The shops in question are Recogne, Bouffioulx and Nivelles in Wallonia; Flagey, Boondael, Hankar and Mutsaard in the Brussels-Capital Region; and Wilrijk, Deurne, Ronse, Grimbergen, Denderleeuw, Knokke, Izegem and Ypres in Flanders.
Credit: Belga / Laurie Dieffembacq
"Clearly, this announcement only confirms that Delhaize has no intention of negotiating with anyone," said Delmée. "Management is highlighting a transitional bonus of at least €1,500 for workers who stay with the company, but they forget to specify that it will be correlated to turnover, employee investment, the absence of a sickness certificate, etc. This is all talk. It is all smoke and mirrors."
She added that Delhaize intends to unveil the list of self-managed supermarkets that will be taken over by independent contractors in dribs and drabs. "They want to break up the announcements, divide and conquer. This is part of their strategy to avoid reaching the mass redundancy figures."
Five of the purchasers of the first 15 Delhaize-owned supermarkets already operate other Delhaize supermarkets. Five other buyers are Delhaize employees; the remaining five are first-time entrepreneurs.
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According to Delhaize, at least one candidate currently exists for all company-owned supermarkets. For 90%, there are at least two potential buyers. "New announcements about additional supermarkets that will transition to franchised Delhaize supermarkets will be made at regular intervals in the coming months," Delhaize said.
Whether the announcement will lead to new staff actions is unclear. The unions will first listen to staff, said Degryse. "Every action starts with [the staff]. If a signal comes from them, we will fully support it."
On Monday, strikes were called in two stores in Brussels and Nivelles, which resulted in the closure of those locations.
