Shoppers planning a last-minute dash for Father’s Day gifts this Sunday may face disruption as staff at drugstore chains Etos and Kruidvat prepare to stage a strike. The trade union FNV announced the industrial action following a dispute over collective bargaining agreements, with staff furious over employers’ proposals to slash Sunday overtime pay in half.
The union is steadfast in its position that Sundays should be treated differently to the rest of the week, accusing retail bosses of attempting to make Sundays just as normal as Mondays. FNV board member Cindy Onvlee argued that if companies expect stores to open on the weekend, they must compensate staff with a 100 per cent Sunday premium. She warned that by cutting the supplement, workers would essentially be paying for their own proposed 4.5 per cent wage rise.
In response, the employers’ representative body, the Association of Drugstore and Related Branch Companies, maintained that it simply wants to bring Sunday pay rates into line with the rest of the high street. The association also expressed its disappointment that the FNV had walked away from the negotiating table.
While it remains uncertain exactly how many branches will be forced to close, the industrial action is expected to spread. The FNV has also called for walkouts at Holland & Barrett and Trekpleister, the latter of which shares a parent company, AS Watson, with Kruidvat. Meanwhile, Etos owner Ahold Delhaize is facing further headaches as workers at its off-licence chain, Gall & Gall, also prepare to strike over identical plans to cut Sunday bonuses.
@anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
