Lidl launches new unlimited strike to demand "decent working conditions"

The social conflict at Lidl is not abating . The inter-union (CFDT, CGT, CFTC and FO) is calling on employees of the retailer Lidl to strike "every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday" this Monday, May 12. The employee representatives intend to denounce an "exponential increase in the workload" which "ruins (their) health", and "against the obligation to work on Sundays and public holidays" . These union organizations also denounce "a massive reduction in staff numbers" .

Lidl has around 46,000 employees in 1,600 stores in France. The Unsa, the group's largest union, is not a signatory to this leaflet calling for a rolling strike. The German-born discounter has had a turbulent start to the year due to a tense social context. For "nine months" and the arrival of John-Paul Scally as president of Lidl France, "there has been no more social dialogue," lamented Christophe Lefevre, CFTC delegate, in Libération on March 12 .

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In early February, the CFDT, CGT, CFTC, FO, and CFE-CGC unions had already called for a strike for similar reasons and to demand a wage increase. The strike, which was well-supported, was suspended after four days and a series of negotiations opened.

"Thanks to your unwavering commitment and your massive presence on the picket lines, management has finally heard the discontent of Lidl employees," the signatory organizations wrote to the retailer 's staff on February 10 .

Ultimately, the February 14 meeting "achieved absolutely nothing," according to Christophe Pierre, CFDT representative, and the social climate at Lidl France became tense again in mid-March. On March 10, around twenty elected officials gathered in front of the closed gates of the company's headquarters in Châtenay-Malabry (Hauts-de-Seine) to speak to the press about the next stages of the discussions.

Another meeting between management and unions The discount giant's strike was held two days later, but again unsuccessfully. This new call for a strike clearly shows that after several months of conflict, the points of view between management and employee representatives continue to diverge.