Staff at Lidl's distribution centre in Tiel visited the supermarket chain's headquarters on Monday. The employees are demanding a travel allowance.
The employees offered the distribution centre a moving box with a social plan. On Friday, they already laid down work. The actions are in response to Lidl's relocation plans. In 2019, Lidl's distribution centre will move from Tiel to Oosterhout, near Nijmegen. The extra travel costs incurred by the 180 employees as a result will be reimbursed by Lidl for a limited time.
'Paying for relocation costs'
According to union FNV Handel, Lidl plans to scrap the extra travel allowance within six months. "Why should we have to pay for the costs involved in the move? Per month it will cost me a few hundred euros in petrol, car maintenance and travel time," said Abdel Ben Touhami, who works in Tiel as a goods reception employee.
Fatma Bugdayci of FNV Handel called Lidl's arrangement "incomprehensible". "A billion-dollar company that Lidl is part of should simply make proper arrangements for its employees. The move has financial consequences for many that are not met with an allowance that is reduced to zero in six months' time."
Social plan for Lidl DC employees
On Monday morning, the employees handed a moving box to Erwin Bziuk, CFO at Lidl. In it was the social plan demanded by the employees. The union wants actual travel costs to be reimbursed after the move to Oosterhout and for Lidl to provide daily transport for the employees.
Bugdayci: "People with cars are going to drive more kilometres. They spend more money not only on petrol but also on car maintenance. Besides, not everyone has a car or can afford one. For them, Lidl should arrange transport that fits in with normal working hours." For those who cannot or do not want to move along, FNV is aiming for work-to-work counselling and a financial settlement.
