Albert Heijn Distribution Center Workers on Strike for Higher Wages

In the distribution centers in Geldermalsen, Pijnacker and Zaandam, part-time workers are on strike tonight. From tomorrow morning at 7 am, all six Albert Heijn distribution centers will be laid off by people who work full-time. The strike in the distribution centers in Geldermalsen, Pijnacker, Tilburg and Zwolle will last until Wednesday. In Zaandam, workers will strike until 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, FNV reports.

Distribution center staff want more pay. “Albert Heijn believes that it has made a decent wage offer with a 6.6 percent wage increase for one year,” says Soraya Faez of the CNV trade union. “But that is far too little. Last year’s inflation was 10.6 percent. Employees only received 2.75 percent in 2022.”

According to the CNV director, it is striking that the part-timers kicked off the strike this evening. “In the past, Albert Heijn used part-timers to catch the work of striking full-timers. They were accused of breaking strikes. The fact that they are now the first to stop working shows that the unity and solidarity among the staff is great .”

“You would say that all alarm bells have gone off at Albert Heijn after the wildcat strikes recently in Pijnacker and Tilburg,” said Shefania Sewbaks, director of FNV Handel. “With this, the distribution employees already clearly showed how dissatisfied they are and that they are willing to take more action. By not meeting them at all, Albert Heijn is now calling for new strikes.” The unions hope for understanding for the possible empty shelves due to the strike.