Strikes break out at Lidl after failed negociations

Strikes broke out in a small number of Lidl‘s Belgian supermarkets on Thursday: employees are protesting against the failure to take adequate measures to ease workloads.

High absenteeism

There is no general strike movement at Lidl, but some supermarkets in Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia remained closed on Thursday, writes L’Echo. Depots were not affected. According to a spokesman, a “minima” number of shops would be affected. Store employees there laid down work after consultations over the high workload at the retailer failed on Tuesday.

Lidl’s management had proposed an increase in staffing levels of five hours a week for four months to cope with high absenteeism. The discounter would also refrain from adjusting rayons for the time being, to relieve staff. But according to the unions, these measures are insufficient. Unrest over the high workload has long persisted at the company. Last week, the unions already blocked five Lidl distribution centres.