The strike at French fry producer Clarebout could last quite a while. The company says it is waiting for a new invitation from the unions. The unions are also waiting for a new proposal from owner Jan Clarebout.
Since last Thursday, workers at Clarebout's four factories in Belgium and France have been on strike. They are demanding extra recognition now that Jan Clarebout has sold his company to the American food giant Simplot for several billion euros.
According to a spokesperson for the company, it's not customary for employees to profit from the sale of a company. However, because employees have been so insistent, Clarebout is willing, after an initial round of consultations, to give each employee a net bonus of €500. This is in recognition of their contribution to the company's development.
Amount of over €3 million
The Belgian French fry producer employs approximately 3.000 people in total. According to the company, a payment of €500 per employee represents a cost of over €3 million, including taxes and other charges. The company also notes that not all formalities have been completed yet, and therefore the sale is not yet finalized.
A Clarebout spokesperson declined to comment specifically on the potential damage to the company caused by the strike. "The strike varies hourly. One moment, 50% of production is at a standstill, the next, it's down to 30%." On the other hand, Clarebout is trying to continue supplying customers. According to the spokesperson, there is still sufficient stock.
Still some episodes
Lars Decock of the ACV union acknowledges that potato products are still being delivered. He says Clarebout has hired external drivers to deliver products. However, he says production at the factories in Nieuwkerke, Warneton, and Mouscron has come to a complete standstill. This also applies to the French factory in Dunkirk.
According to Decock, the employees rejected the offer of €500 per employee. They want better recognition for the fact that they helped build the company. And that, Decock emphasizes, also during the coronavirus period.
The activists are waiting for a new offer from owner Jan Clarebout. The French fry manufacturer, in turn, is waiting for a new invitation from the unions. Both parties are willing to meet, but one is waiting for a better offer, while the other is expecting an invitation. "Until about fifteen minutes ago, there was no new invitation," says a Clarebout spokesperson. "We haven't received any new information from Clarebout yet," says Decock.
What is going on?
Director Christophe Vermeulen of the Belgian trade association for potato trading and processing does not believe it is his organization's responsibility to comment on the strike demands, but he does so anyway his weekly video blog What's going on in potato country"I don't think there's really a general principle that employees should share in the proceeds of a company's sale, just as there's no principle that they should participate in a potential company failure. I hope a solution can be found at the table with some calm, humanity, and mutual understanding."