Job Cuts at UPS Belgium
UPS is reportedly planning to eliminate 525 positions in Belgium, which amounts to more than half of its workforce, according to the Christian trade union ACV and local media outlets.
Hans Elsen, the ACV Director-General, mentioned to the Berga news agency that these layoffs were announced during a labor-management meeting on Tuesday. UPS currently employs around 800 people, as noted by Elsen.
“This affects not just drivers but also baggage sorters and customs clearance staff,” Elsen stated. He also expressed concern, saying, “It’s frightening to put the whole family in an uncertain situation a week before summer vacation. This isn’t the kind of discussion you have when everyone is on vacation.”
Most of the affected employees work at the UPS facility in Diegem, which had seen a strike in 2016 related to worries about the company’s future in Belgium. Elsen added that UPS also operates a distribution center in Rummen, Limburg, but it remains unclear if that location will be impacted as well.
In an interview with Belgian Public Broadcasting, Elsen argued that the ACV union is accused of wanting UPS to “replace permanent contracts with cheaper freelancers.”
The ACV informed that while the volume of packages handled by UPS has dipped “slightly,” it claimed this decline was not significant enough to justify job cuts.
“Management plans to initiate discussions about the layoff plan next week, but the union intends to first consult with its members. A meeting is scheduled for Wednesday,” reported Berga news agency.
UPS issued a statement to Berga News Agency, noting that while it doesn’t typically engage with “speculation,” the company is “continuously seeking ways to enhance customer experience and maintain service continuity as market needs evolve.” They also mentioned they are considering various operational options in Belgium.
Earlier this year, UPS had unveiled a plan to cut 30,000 jobs by 2026 as part of a broader cost-saving initiative. The company has approximately 490,000 employees globally.
