At the cabinet of Minister of Work Pierre-Yves Dermagne (PS), a consultation will take place next Thursday with the management of supermarket chain Delhaize and the trade unions. The socialist trade union and Dermagne’s cabinet confirm this on Tuesday.
Three weeks ago, Dermagne had already called on the trade unions and the management of Delhaize, which are embroiled in a social conflict about the privatization of all stores owned by the supermarket chain, to sit around the table. In the meantime, a first appointment has been scheduled: Thursday, September 7 at 6 p.m.
In addition to the trade unions and the management, Dermagne himself and the ‘facilitator’ he recently appointed in the file, Robert Tollet, will also take part. The 76-year-old Tollet is the former chairman of the Central Council for Business (CRB) and must help the social mediator to get the talks that have been dragging since March back on track.
Additional meetings have already been scheduled for 13 and 15 September. At the first meeting at the cabinet, Delhaize CEO Xavier Piesvaux would also be present, and that at the explicit request of Dermagne, says Myriam DelmĂ©e of the trade union BBTK. According to her, it will be the first time since March 7 – the day Delhaize announced the restructuring – that the CEO will personally meet with employee representatives.
Next Monday, at 9:30 a.m., an ordinary works council is also planned at Delhaize itself, the retailer itself and the unions confirmed. The future plan is also on the agenda. The unions fear that a new phase in the privatization of the stores will be announced.
This article is originally published on bruzz.be
