Les Petits Riens' decision to dismiss around 20 employees has prompted a strike denouncing a "brutal" redundancy procedure. The action is ongoing.
The second-hand chain and non-profit organisation Les Petits Riens dismissed around 20 employees from its recycling centre in Anderlecht last week. Workers responded by launching a strike from 06:00 on Friday morning, which has continued into this week.
"Labour negotiations are the big omission from this restructuring plan," said trade unions CNE and Setca. "The pressure on staff is growing, and management prefers to dismiss or demote workers rather than train them. It is unacceptable that workers should be the adjustment variable."
Around 50 employees, trade unionists and other supporters are protesting at the Anderlecht site. They say that precarious workers have been the most impacted, and no official representative has crossed the picket line to speak to them.
Sector in huge difficulty
In response, Les Petits Riens expressed surprise that the dismissals have triggered protests. "We are astonished that advance notice of a strike was given and that, the very next day, a 'spontaneous' strike supported by the unions began," it stated on Monday. "This strike can only worsen the non-profit's complicated financial situation."
Belgium and Europe's second hand industries are in extreme difficulty due in part to fast fashion flooding the market. An enormous quantity of poor-quality clothing is purchased by consumers who donate them to second-hand outlets, who then must sort and ultimately throw out the majority of material received.
Other factors such as the best second-hand clothing being sold on online platforms such as Vinted rather than being donated have contributed to financial difficulty for the entire sector. "Since 2018, the financial situation of Les Petits Riens has been marked by persistent financial fragility due to successive crises and upheavals in the second-hand sector," the organisation said.
Credit: Belga
Les Petits Riens is a "social economic actor." Since the 1930s, it has fought against poverty by channeling all of its income towards social projects as well as employing people from marginalised backgrounds.
It is in this context that the employees on strike denounce what they view as the "commercialisation" of their workplace.
"Employers in the commercial sector must not be allowed to apply their neoliberal vision to the non-commercial sector, and we won't give up," the trade unions stated.
The organisation has reiterated its commitment to its social principles. "These decisions are not taken lightly. The economic activity of Les Petits Riens, although in a competitive market, only benefits the maintenance and development of social actions."
"People remain at the heart of the organisation and the fight against poverty and social exclusion are our priorities."
