Unions that represent staff that work for the sportswear manufacturer Nike say that 411 jobs are under threat at its site in Laakdal (Antwerp Province). The weekend shifts in particular will bear the brunt of the cuts will as many as 330 jobs set to be lost.
Eric Vuchelen of the liberal trade union ACLVB told journalists that “This is a tragedy. Sales of sports shoes and clothing are sluggish, so there is not enough work”.
Laakdal and neighbouring Ham (Limburg Province) are home to Nike's distribution centre for sportswear and shoes in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Management now plans to cut 411 jobs at the 2 sites. This has been confirmed by the trade unions following a special works council meeting on Tuesday.
330 of the job cut will be amoung those that work the day and night shifts at the weekends.
The remaining 81 job cuts will be made among staff that work in logistical support.
Eric Vuchelen of the liberal trade union ACLVB says that “This is a tragedy for 411 families”. This is echoed by says Marieke Van Gils of the socialist trade union BBTK. “A real shock for the workplace”.
“There is too little work, especially at weekends, says the management. Those who start at 6am nothing to do. The reason for this is that sales are not going well”, Mr Vuchelen.
“Weekend shifts peaked during the coronavirus pandemic. People ordered Nike products online and didn't have to wait until after the weekend for delivery. But digital sales have been sluggish for some time now. No adjustments were ever made, and now management is taking drastic action” Ms Van Gils.
Collective redundancy law
The unions hope to limit the number of redundancies. Talks between trade unions and management on the redundancies will follow the conditions set out in the so-called “Renault Law”, a law on large-scale collective redundancies that was brought in when the Renault car plant in Vilvoorde (Flemish Brabant) closed in the late 1990s.
After the planned restructuring, around 4,500 people will still be working at Nike in Laakdal and Ham.