From 311 to 150 redundancies in the end at Barry Callebaut in Wieze and Lokeren, a social plan was approved.

311 jobs were at risk at Barry Callebaut in East Flanders. The majority are in Wieze (near Lebbeke) and a smaller number in the distribution center in Lokeren. 178 jobs would be lost at the Halle branch.

The unions announced this before several jobs could be saved. According to Kurt Marysse of the liberal trade union ACLVB, around 150 people will lose their jobs in the end. “These include soft measures, bare layoffs and vacancies that are no longer filled, but of course these are included in the 150 jobs we saved. “

After 9 months of negotiations, management and unions now have an agreement in principle on the restructuring. This means that they agree in general on the way in which they manage the employees. The details will be recorded later in a binding document.

The Liberal union is satisfied with the content of the agreement: “We have ensured that fringe benefits are included in the social plan, that additional training opportunities are available and that there is a framework for re-employment within the company.”

Liesbet Van De Voorde from the socialist union BBTK explains that the agreement will be presented to the workers in about two weeks. “By then, the details of the agreement in principle will be well worked out and management and unions will sign off.”