For the second time in a week, logistics workers at Decathlon in Antwerp have laid off work. The gift voucher offered to them by the sporting goods retailer did not go down well.
Last week, a group of distribution workers at the Willebroek distribution centre decided to strike and block access to the building. Dissatisfied with the lack of protection measures, the workers demanded the same corona premium as their French colleagues. Those receive a premium of 25 euros per half-day.
Another 5 per cent bonus, based on staff productivity, was just recently abolished by Decathlon. The sports retailer also allegedly violated the collective agreement when it introduced evening and night work without consultation.
Monday and Tuesday saw a second strike in Willebroek. According to union ACV Puls, the sports retailer proposed to offer staff a gift voucher of 250 euros, to be spent in a Decathlon shop."We see that as a pocket-pocket operation that did not go down well with the employees," said Erika Lambert of ACV Puls. Lambert hopes that the management does want to sit down with the unions following the second strike. "Showing respect is also listening to each other. These people want to be heard."
Image: Bjoern Wylezich / Shutterstock.com
