Employees at the Dekamarkt and Dirk van de Broek distribution centre in Velsen are laying down work on Friday and Saturday. The actions follow an appeal by FNV to supermarket workers across the Netherlands. The union is demanding that staff share in the increase in supermarket sales.
The strike in Velsen has been divided into two shifts. Each shift will lay down work for two hours. Another series of actions will follow on Saturday, spread across several distribution centres in the Netherlands.
Consultations suspended
Talks between supermarket chains and unions broke down last week. Employers promised a 4 per cent wage rise, spread over two years, and extra pension spending. Furthermore, they said the Sunday supplement should be reduced. The unions in turn demanded 5 per cent more pay and do not want to get rid of the Sunday and public holiday surcharge. The employers' wage offer would mean staff would lose out due to inflation from 1 January 2021.
Decent wage increase
According to the unions, supermarkets have recorded an average 16 per cent increase in sales in recent months. Staff should benefit from this, FNV said. In an earlier fire letter to the chain stores, employees wrote: "You book millions in profits, but want to take away our allowances and not give us a decent pay rise. While you work safely from home and we pull the chestnuts out of the fire in the supermarket every day."
Notifications actions
Notifications of actions are coming in every day. "Since yesterday evening, our mailbox has been overflowing with notifications from members and non-members," FNV informed earlier.
