Delhaize is no longer supplying fresh food to its stores for the time being. This is because the workers in the crucial depots in Zellik have gone on strike.
The atmosphere at Delhaize is becoming increasingly grim now that a second strike front has also erupted. The workers in the logistics centers who are responsible for stocking the stores are flexing their muscles. Zellik and Ninove are the logistic arteries of Delhaize. Last night things went completely wrong in Zellik. Workers, especially from the ACV trade union, prevented trucks from driving out and made it more difficult for those willing to work. Delhaize then called in bailiffs.
Geert Sanders of the Socialist ABVV Horval criticizes Delhaize’s attitude. ‘People know that there are tensions and frustrations and yet the management does not want to enter into a dialogue. It is always derailed first. Why? What’s the meaning of this?’
At Delhaize, spokesman Roel Dekelver says that the problems in Zellik are the result of the merger of two distribution centers and the introduction of a new work organization. The intention of the merger was that the workers of one warehouse could also lend a hand in the other warehouse. This was not possible in the old work description. There is also a temperature difference of 5 degrees in both storage locations. But on Wednesday night, the temperature rose, especially among the workers.
Currently, no fresh food is being delivered anymore. This promises to have important consequences for Delhaize’s own and independent supermarkets. Many Delhaize supermarkets are experiencing supply problems. There is a problem, especially in fresh food. This risks discouraging customers from shopping elsewhere.
Cocktail of staff frustration
The problems in Zellik are separate from Delhaize’s plan to sell its own stores, but only make the malaise worse. It also leads to frustration among staff. The employees at the head office, where layoffs are already taking place, feel like the forgotten group. Some white-collar workers, on the other hand, feel that the workers in the warehouses are hijacking the action. Delhaize thus looks at a complicated cocktail.
We are open to dialogue. But management is silent. I don’t understand why Delhaize is acting this way,’ says Sanders.