Almost one year since the supermarket giant Delhaize decided to transform all of its self-managed stores into independent franchises, several shops have made the switch. Despite promises of staff protection, one union has argued they are worse off.
Delhaize announced in March last year that it would be franchising 128 of its self-managed stores in Belgium, arguing that their profitability fell. The company denied that the change would lead to job losses and said that all employees of the supermarkets involved would keep their jobs, and maintain their current wages and working conditions.
The move was widely condemned by Belgian unions, who hoped that management "would adjust the plans after opposition and criticism of the takeover terms." But the company pushed ahead with the franchising process at Delhaize has been going on in waves for three months now.
So far, a total of 33 shops have made the switch to independent management and in January, the Eigenbrakel, Overijse and Mons shops are still planned.
On Monday, it announced the names of another 18 shops that would be changing hands. "Like a bulldozer, it continued to rush ahead with its project, arguing that the transfer would not affect workers," Jan De Weghe, General Secretary of the socialist national trade union ABVV said.
Pay insecurity
ABVV on Tuesday shared the feedback it is getting from its delegates and employees at the franchised stores. "So far, it is not good news."
"Employment is being phased out, job quality is declining and pressure on transferred staff is increasing," said De Weghe. "In many shops, we receive reports of delays or errors in the payment of wages and social security documents. Two months after the transfer, some workers have still not received a pay slip or performance review and see a shortfall in their bank accounts," he added.
Unions protest during a meeting of the trade unions and management of supermarket chain Delhaize. Credit: Belga / Benoit Doppagne
Concerns are being raised that every self-employed manager will make their own choices in terms of managing staff pay, leading to insecurity in pay.
New bosses are reportedly imposing new opening hours and new timetables, avoiding paying wage bonuses on Sundays, unilaterally changing job contents and changing labour regulations without consultation.
In the worst cases, the union was told that students work without a contract, are not declared and do not receive personal protective equipment. "The situation and practices in some franchise shops are unacceptable," De Weghe said.
Inhumane practices
Aside from the dodgy working conditions recorded by the union, workers also face "outrageous human practices".
Cameras are pointed at workers in large numbers, without prior information or union supervision and breaks are being questioned. Employees who resign or fall ill are replaced by students or flexi-jobbers, greatly reducing the quality of employment.
When delegates dare to ask questions and expose certain shortcomings, they are "pressured and targeted".
"We have collected several testimonies of situations that have reached extreme proportions, ranging from verbal abuse, suspension and expulsion of a delegate from her shop to police intervention and defamation."
A few days ago, ABVV questioned Delhaize's management about this questionable behaviour in one certain supermarket, but management argued that the transition phase is over and Delhaize is no longer the employer.
The union is now calling on political leaders to monitor the situation in franchised shops.
