The FNV trade union organized a small demonstration at the Primark clothing chain on Damrak this afternoon because of unrest about layoffs. Twenty people made themselves heard. “We just want respect and appreciation. Unfortunately we never had that.”
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Around 4 p.m. a small group of demonstrators, some of whom are dressed in orange FNV vests, gathers in front of the entrance of the Primark branch in the center of Amsterdam. Passers-by mainly look at the protest signs, which read ‘Power to the Primark workers’ and ‘More respect = short lines’.
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The chain would like to lay off about 250 people, only to want to hire a lot of staff again for worse working conditions, such as lower wages.
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Several employees introduce themselves to the public on the steps of the gigantic clothing store and explain why they have gathered today. “A high workload, too few staff, low wages, and long queues at the cash registers,” says employee Albertine Scheude through the microphone. “We just want respect and appreciation. Unfortunately we never had that.” In between they get a lot of applause from passers-by.
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Scheude: ,,Every day I walk more than 13 kilometers in the shop. You run your shit. The workload is just too high.”
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Wages up
With the action, the union hopes to enforce a higher severance payment for the employees if they are fired. For the people who stay, the union wants ‘workable schedules and wages that will go up in the future,’ says union director Linda Vermeulen. Primark now wants to freeze wages. This is ridiculous, especially in times of inflation, Primark is a rich company.”
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The union received reports from Primark employees in March about the impending layoff. In addition to store staff, managers in the stores would also have to leave. In response to this, the union already handed over a petition to the management in April, signed by approximately 160 employees.
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‘A historic moment’
Vermeulen is proud of the action and calls it a ‘historic moment’. According to her, it is the first time that Primark employees have taken action. The union director calls the impending layoffs and the high workload ‘outrageous’. “You see today that employees want to speak out. But the management is very medieval. Employees were not even allowed to take a short break during this demonstration today. So sad.”
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Employee Priscilla Wouter (30) is also present as a demonstrator. She has been a full-time supervisor for several years and finds it especially ‘disrespectful’ how the retail chain treats its employees. ,,Everywhere you have a high workload, but at Primark it is not normal. Where as a supervisor you are normally responsible for one department, I am now responsible for three or four floors. And the management? It never helps you.”
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“In addition, employees have to beg to take a break,” says Wouter. So it’s high time for a change. No one should treat us like this anymore.”
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Primark: ‘We understand this is a difficult time’
“We understand that this is a difficult time for colleagues who are affected,” said David Swann Lassche, leader of the Dutch branch of Primark, in writing. According to him, a social plan can be voted on through the trade unions. Primark ‘adjusted that many times during the negotiation process’.
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The company has also received positive feedback on that, and on “the flexibility we’ve shown by listening to our people and working together to try to retain as many of our engaged colleagues as possible,” Lassche said.
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