The ongoing negotiations at Barry Callebaut in Halle have hit a stalemate, according to Hans Cristiaens, secretary of the BBTK trade union. The second works council meeting in April was positive, but recent discussions have been marred by uncertainty and a lack of clarity.
Since the end of March, the chocolate manufacturer has been working on plans to restructure its operations in Halle. This includes cutting 178 jobs out of a total of 480, with 159 blue-collar and 19 white-collar positions being affected. Despite the progress made during the first works council meeting in March, there remains uncertainty about key issues that need to be resolved before meaningful discussions can take place.
Cristiaens expressed that management’s lack of detailed information has hindered progress in negotiations. With too many uncertainties and potential scenarios in the plans, it has become difficult for both parties to come to an agreement. To give management time to address these concerns, negotiations have been put on hold until September.
However, there is some good news for workers at Barry Callebaut in Halle. Management has indicated that a framework agreement has been reached with European works councils, serving as a basis for future discussions. While this may not resolve all issues, it is a positive step towards finding a solution that benefits both parties involved.
