The 28 Belgian stores of the French ready-to-wear Camaïeu are on strike this Monday. A few dozen employees, supported by Belgian, French and Luxembourg trade union delegations, are demonstrating this morning in front of the rue Neuve building in Brussels, housing a store and the company’s headquarters.
“I am coming to demonstrate because, after 12 years of good and loyal service, I was dismissed by a simple phone call on Wednesday. Camaïeu has nothing to do with us and the management tries to make us believe that, if we leaks, it will be the fault of the staff “, says Sarah, manager of the Camaïeu store in Tournai.
His sisters sport for many a t-shirt which is written “Smile to life” but they crossed out the word “smile” to replace it for example by “dirty blow”. Some employees hold up small “We love our job” signs, an inscription reflecting their attachment to their profession and to the brand.
However, working conditions have deteriorated, says Sarah. “There is no such thing as 36 hours a week at Camaïeu. Rather, we work 40 or 45 hours. We push people to the limit, mainly the highest salaries because of seniority, to make them leave. We are asked to always do more, without any consideration. Fortunately, we are very supportive between employees “, says the manager.
Sarah has not received any instructions from her management regarding the organization of the sales, which begin on August 1. No message of support either, despite the bankruptcy of the brand and she wondered what sauce she will be eaten. “How long are we going to go unanswered? I need it to start my job search”, she says.
No trace of Belgium in the recovery plan
Camaïeu, which accuses 300 million euros in debts, has admitted bankruptcy in France, a country in which the group’s management has requested and obtained protection against its creditors. But none of this in Belgium. So the Belgian staff and their union representatives wonder about the future of the Belgian subsidiary.
“Candidate buyers have come forward, including the current shareholders, who do not want to because confidence has been broken. For the moment, the Belgian subsidiary is not included in the French takeover offer. No information has been given to prospective buyers about Belgian stores. With this action, we are asking that real negotiations around a takeover open in France and that the Belgian management submit a request for judicial reorganization procedure (PRJ) “, explains CNE union official Jalil Bourhidane.
At the end of July at the earliest, the French court must decide the question of the choice of the buyer for the French stores. The CNE, behind the demonstration on Monday, wants clarity on the Belgian side of this bankruptcy case. “Management has told us that it will request a PRJ as soon as possible but we do not have a date yet”, says Jalil Bourhidane.
The CNE fears that the company’s coffers are empty to the point of not being able to pay a social plan for its dismissed employees. A bankruptcy would imply that the severance payments will be paid by the Business Closure Fund, therefore the State, with a maximum of 25,000 euros per person.
On Tuesday, the 28 Camaïeu stores will reopen. “We will be present, especially for our clients”says Sarah.
–
