Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The streets of Ghent and Destelbergen will remain unswept today because Ivago sweepers have stopped their operations. The morning shift employees embark upon their second day of labor strike actions.
The Ivago sweepers in Ghent and Destelbergen will not be sweeping the streets today as the strike enters its second day. Employees of the morning shift continued their protest, while it remained unclear whether waste collection staff would join the strike. According to the socialist trade union ACOD,
“The management did not give us any guarantees during yesterday’s consultation.”
The situation remains unresolved, with no immediate resolution in sight.
During the consultation between Ivago management and union representatives, discussions centred on employee compensation but failed to yield results.
Union representative Stephan Van de Meirssche stated,
“The meeting was therefore quickly stopped. They only noted our concerns but did nothing further with them.”
Employees have raised concerns about unpaid training, increased work pressure, and the potential impact of cost-saving measures announced by the city of Ghent. Additionally, Ivago’s recent decision to halt glass collection in sub-municipalities has further fueled dissatisfaction among staff.
What is the background of the Ivago strike and Ghent’s waste management challenges?
Ivago functions as a waste management company that provides service to both Ghent and Destelbergen and has experienced expanding operational challenges in the past few years. Ghent’s population of 260,000 people generates a yearly waste output of 100,000 tons, thus creating additional pressure on waste management systems. Ivago made strategic moves in 2022 as part of its financial restructuring to stop collecting glass waste from its small zones.
Employee worry increased after training went unpaid while work stress intensified along with job security fears because of budget cuts. Due to municipal budget restrictions, which aim to cut €30 million in spending annually, the city of Ghent faces additional resource challenges. The ongoing strike emerged from negotiations between Ivago managers and labor unions, which produced no agreement about wages or work environment improvements.
