A strike took place at Wehkamp's distribution centre in Maurik on Monday afternoon. Logistics workers laid off work to force a better social plan now that the DC in Maurik has to close due to a reorganisation. "Wehkamp is offering half of what we are asking.
Staff in Maurik laid down work on Monday after Wehkamp's final offer for a social plan was rejected last week. Action is also underway today. At 8.30am, staff left by bus for Zwolle, where Wehkamp's head office is located.
Due to a reorganisation, logistics operations in Maurik in Gelderland are being transferred to Wehkamp's central distribution centre in Zwolle. The 51 permanent employees have two options: move with them to Zwolle (120 kilometres away) or make use of the social plan, under which Wehkamp will guide them to other work in the region.
'No guarantee'
There are snags in that social plan, believes trade union FNV. "There is no guarantee whatsoever," Ali Aklaouch, director of FNV Handel told De Gelderlander. "They cannot guarantee that everyone will be put to work. You are dependent on other employers. "The older age of a large part of the Wehkamp staff must be included in the negotiations, Aklaouch believes. "The position of these people in the labour market... That's just going to be a very tricky one." The union is demanding better compensation for job counselling and training so that dismissed employees have more chances in the labour market.
Transition allowance too low
Wehkamp and FNV also disagree on the amount employees will take with them when they are laid off. "I think the gap is twice as big - Wehkamp is offering half of what we are asking.
Employees at the head office and dc in Zwolle, which are affected by the reorganisation, are also laying down work in the coming days, according to FNV, resulting in necessary delays.
Wehkamp: 'Very disappointed'
For its part, Wehkamp is "very disappointed" that FNV decided to organise a strike at an early stage. Wehkamp wants to talk to the unions again. According to the e-tailer, the reorganisation is inevitable if it wants to survive in a rapidly changing and extremely competitive market.
