Ahold Delhaize, the group above Delhaize, is holding its shareholders' meeting on Wednesday in Zaandam, Netherlands. Unions from Belgium will go there to continue their protest against Delhaize's franchise plan.
The unions have opposed Delhaize's plan to leave 128 shops to independent operators for over a month. A mediator has been appointed but has not yet restored the peace with strikes ongoing. In an effort to force shops that are on strike to open, the supermarket's management has sometimes sent bailiffs to clear protesting staff.
"We would like to get in (to the negotiations), but that is probably wishful thinking," said Katrien Degryse of the socialist union BBTK, which last week filed a criminal complaint against the supermarket chain.
Wilson Wellens of the liberal union ACLVB spoke about "an alternative action" in addition to the strikes, which he hopes will catch the attention of shareholders. "We hope some will be sensitive to the moral argument. Staff are being sold as commodities."
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Buses will leave from various locations in Belgium though it is still unclear how many unionists will travel to the Netherlands. Besides the Belgian unions, Dutch trade union FNV and environmental organisation Milieudefensie are also planning protests. The latter wants Ahold Delhaize to do more to improve its climate credentials.
Meanwhile, the closure of several Delhaize shops in Belgium led the company to create an interactive map to allow customers the possibility of checking if their Delhaize shop is open or not.
