Strike at Belgian frozen fries specialist: staff demand bonus after sale to US company
The employees of Flemish company Clarebout Potatoes, which specialises in frozen fries, went on strike for the second day in a row on Friday. They want a bonus following the sale of Clarebout Potatoes to the US company Simplot. The employees rejected an initial proposal of a bonus of 500 euros.
Work was already stopped on Thursday at all of the company's sites. Clarebout Potatoes has Belgian sites at Nieuwkerke, Waasten and Moeskroen and also at Dunkirk in France. In total, around 3,000 people work for the company.
The reason for the strike is dissatisfaction with the sale of the company to the US company Simplot. It is not known how much founder and owner Jan Clarebout sold his company for, but it is believed to be in the billions of euros. The employees want a bonus because they helped build the company.
The management had proposed a bonus of 500 euros, but the employees considered this too little. The strike therefore continued on Friday. It is not clear how much the staff want.
“We have not heard anything from the employer so far. We are waiting for a signal, but until we get one, we will continue to strike,” said Lars Decock of the ACV trade union.
The social action takes place while the sale of the company is being finalised. According to the trade unions, the deal with Simplot will be finalised in November at the latest. They are counting on Simplot to also push for a solution.
Founded by Jan Clarebout in 1988, the company is a global player in frozen chips and exports to more than 120 countries.
#FlandersNewsService | The Clarebout factory near Dunkirk, in France © PHOTO PHOTOPQR/VOIX DU NORD/Marc Demeure/MAXPPP