Lidls reopen after 7 day strike

Belgium’s 305 Lidl supermarkets are all open today after week-long strike actions closed roughly a third of them nationwide.

Union bosses and management reached an agreement on Tuesday evening over working conditions and ended the strike actions. Each store will get the equivalent of 42 extra staff hours per week to alleviate working pressures. Although having reached a consensus, Thomas Vanbiervliet of the Liberal Trades Union said this was just the start.

Strike actions peaked on Friday with the closure of 147 stores – 18 of which were in the greater Brussels reigon. Workers had also blockaded all five of the chain’s distribution centres, meaning stores that were open had limited stock.

The strike action began last Wednesday and received support from French-speaking socialist union and their Flemish colleagues.

An initial agreement last Friday to end the strikes was vetoed by the socialist union. Tuesday’s agreement came after a 14-hour meeting.