A strike at Belgium's Clarebout Potatoes, which is currently in the process of being acquired by US-based JR Simplot, has entered its fifth day. The industrial action covers all four Clarebout production sites: Three in Belgium and one in France.
The strike began on 2 October in response to a dispute over bonuses linked to the acquisition. Talks between union representatives and Clarebout started on 30 September, when the ACV union requested a bonus payment for all staff following reports that Clarebout's CEO, Jan Clarebout, would "receive a substantial amount" from the sale to JR Simplot.
The deal was announced in July and is expected to be finalised by the end of the year. Financial terms have not been disclosed, though Belgian media estimate the sale to be between €1–4 billion (US$1.1–4.4 billion).
Lars Decock, secretary for ACV, said Clarebout initially rejected the request but later offered €500 (US$584) for each of its 3,000 employees. "Given the significant sale amount (estimated between €1-4bn according to Belgian media), this offer was deemed insufficient by the staff. As a result, a strike was initiated. We have informed the employer that we are willing to return to the negotiating table," Decock said.
Raphael Tassart, spokesperson for Clarebout, confirmed the €500 proposal and noted there would be no impact on staff numbers from the sale. He added that the takeover could even lead to higher employment. "This bonus is in addition to other long-term salary arrangements. Although this is an exceptional and extra-legal bonus, when a company is sold, it is quite rare for employees to be offered a form of profit-sharing in the sale; staff representatives are demanding a larger sum," Tassart said.
Currently, the strike is impacting all sites, and Clarebout has adjusted production accordingly. The union has not yet made an official request for a meeting with management.
Clarebout employs around 3,000 staff: 500 in Nieuwkerke, 1,500 at the Waasten facility, 500 at the Mydibell factory in Mouscron, and 500 at the Dunkirk site in France. "Without any response from the employer, the strike will continue," Decock said.
Clarebout is a private-label supplier to the retail, catering, and food-processing sectors. When announcing the takeover, JR Simplot said the combined group would operate 23 production sites and that the agreement "provides for the maintenance, and even expansion, of Clarebout Potatoes' assets – staff and production sites – on the European continent".
Source: JustFood
