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Trade unions fear loss of 400 jobs in restaurants European Commission | Economy

The European Commission has canceled a public tender for the catering activities. According to the unions, this would threaten 400 jobs at the two companies that currently run the catering.




About 400 employees work in the restaurants of the Commission through Ciano and Compass. The contract is coming to an end, but the two companies were still in a tender process for a new contract.

“Dismissal without compensation is imminent”

However, the unions are now reporting that Compass and Ciano have received a letter from the Commission informing them that the catering will be suspended from January 1, 2021. The measure will run at least until September 1, 2021, but could also last longer. After all, the Commission indicates that it wants to think about the future of its catering activities.

The unions do not accept the Commission invoking force majeure to cancel the tender. “As a result, there is a threat of a dismissal without compensation and without application of the Renault law,” says ACV Food and Services. Discussions are underway, but the union is thinking of actions if no solution is found.

“Social carnage possible”

It is also feared that the announcement could “snowball” and cause other European institutions to think similarly. Moreover, in addition to catering, security, cleaning and other activities could also be suspended, according to the ACV. “In that case, a real social carnage is being announced here.”

According to the newspaper l’Echo, the unions are also turning to Belgian politicians. For example, the cabinets of Federal Minister of Economy and Employment Pierre-Yves Dermagne and Brussels Prime Minister Rudi Vervoort have been contacted about the matter.

Wet-Renault

The Commission denies circumventing the Renault law. “The Commission is not the employer of the subcontractor’s staff for catering services. She is not firing people or circumventing the Renault law, ”said a spokesman. The Commission is confident that companies will respect their social and economic obligations towards their employees as set out in the contract.

The spokesperson recalled that the Commission can suspend a tender procedure at any time. In this case, the decision was mainly prompted by the corona crisis, which has drastically changed the need for catering. The Commission intends to reassess its catering needs before moving forward with a new contract. “That will allow us to think about the new circumstances and also to better integrate the requirements of the Green Deal,” said the spokesman.

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