Three days of strikes at Albert Heijn distribution center: why and what can you expect?
While Albert Heijn is busy working on its B Corp certification, a certification for for-profit companies assessed on their social and environmental impact, Albert Heijn’s own distribution center employees are walking off the job for three days. ‘Management is lining its pockets while we can no longer afford our own groceries.’
Last month, Ahold’s annual report revealed that the group is paying around 20 million euros in salaries, bonuses and stock options to four executives. CEO Frans Muller received a 14 percent increase and took home 6.5 million euros. According to RTL Nieuws, that means he earns 128 times as much as the average employee. Employees are one of the five pillars of B Corp certification. To put it mildly, they are not happy with their collective labor agreement.
Strike at Albert Heijn distribution centers
All six Albert Heijn distribution centers are now on strike for higher wages. The trade unions gave the supermarket chain until 5:00 p.m. on Sunday to come up with a good proposal for pay increases. They are demanding a 14.3 percent salary increase; Albert Heijn has proposed 8 percent: 6 percent immediately and 2 percent as of January 2024. The employees are not accepting this, which is why they are now walking off the job for the third day. ‘It cannot be the case that management enriches itself while Albert Heijn employees can no longer afford their own groceries and energy bills,’ says FNV official Clemens.
Physically demanding work
The distribution center is Albert Heijn’s engine room, says one of the employees; without these people, there would be no bread on the table.’ Another striker: ‘Physically demanding work is carried out here around the clock in shifts: loading the trucks that supply the supermarkets. ‘During the coronavirus pandemic, we were still the company’s heroes.’
Empty stores
The supermarket chain cannot yet estimate the impact the strikes will have on store supplies, but is inviting FNV back to the negotiating table. According to the employees, they will continue striking until a pay increase of at least two digits before the decimal point is achieved; ‘otherwise we will strike until all Albert Heijn stores are empty,’ says one of the protesters.
Read also:
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Source: Volkskrant, Radar, image: Albert Heijn
