Tessenderlo-Ham (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The ABVV, together with ACV unions, show concern regarding the potential Vercruysse family acquisition of construction company Marlux-Stradus. CRH Nederland maintains ownership of the construction company Marlux-Stradus through its branch networks, which operate in Tessenderlo-Ham, Zolder, Mornimont, and Ghent.
Yannick Urbain of the ABVV criticised the absence of a social plan because such agreements normally occur during company transitions.
Parent company CRH squeezes companies here like lemons and then dumps the employees,
the ABVV says.
The plans for a takeover have now been confirmed and are in an advanced stage,
says Yannick Urbain of the ABVV.
The staff is very worried. That is normal. When you close a company, you normally draw up a social plan with the unions. We do not have those guarantees now.
We have asked for employment guarantees for all sites, but we are not getting them,
Urbain explains.
There is also a rumour going around that the site in Tessenderlo will be closed. Our concern goes out to all sites, but we must not lose sight of that rumour. Parent company CRH must fulfil its duty and work out a good arrangement for the people.
The unions confronted the current local management for the first time on February 27.
It was said in all languages that these rumors are not true.
But exactly one week ago, it turned out that there was something to it after all.
On March 13, there was a new meeting, this time with the European management of parent company CRH. It was admitted that a takeover is indeed planned, and that this project has been underway since the end of September 2024. In December, a letter of intent for the sale was signed,
the unions reported.
According to the unions, it was not CRH’s intention to inform the unions and the employees in advance.
We had to learn that from reliable sources,
the unions say.
Mr. Vercruysse had also confirmed that he would be present at further consultations today. He was forbidden to do so by CRH’s lawyers.
The unions emphasise that they will not leave it at that.
Since the current CRH management does not give any guarantees for the future, and the new owner is not even allowed to attend a meeting, we will seek redress from the companies of the Vercruysse family themselves.
CRH is squeezing companies like lemons here. It quickly pays out dividends and then dumps the employees. We hope to have a meeting with Mr Vercruysse on Wednesday in which he will make his intentions clear,
Urbain concludes.
What is the background of Marlux-Stradus and CRH’s business practices?
The Belgian construction company Marlux-Stradus maintains four branches spread throughout the country, with Tessenderlo-Ham employing more than 100 workers while Zolder operates with 50 employees and Mornimont runs with a workforce of 65, and Ghent maintains a staff of 30 which sums to 220 personnel. Dutch parent company CRH Nederland currently owns Marlux-Stradus, but the company is part of CRH’s subsidiary divestment track record.
In 2021, CRH sold ECHO Houthalen before the Vercruysse family acquired Marlux-Stradus from CRH after CRH had previously sold Remacle to the family. Unions allege CRH prioritises profit over employee welfare, stating,
CRH squeezes companies like lemons and then dumps the employees.
The September 2024 takeover process has attracted significant concern because it provides no job security and lacks transparency.
