UPS Plans to Cut Up to 525 Jobs in Belgium, Unions Criticize Timing

American courier company UPS is poised to eliminate as many as 525 jobs in Belgium, a move that would impact more than half of its current workforce in the country. The company's management disclosed this intention during a works council meeting, according to Hans Elsen of the ACV union. UPS has declined to comment on the matter.

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It is disgusting to plunge all these families into uncertainty a week before the summer holidays.

Elsen stated that UPS employs approximately 800 people in Belgium. The proposed cuts would affect a wide range of roles, including drivers, package sorters, and employees responsible for customs clearance. While the company's main facility is in Diegem, it also operates a distribution center in Lummen, though it remains unclear if the Lummen site will be affected.

Unions are questioning the scale of the layoffs, noting that while UPS has experienced a slight decrease in package volumes, it does not appear to justify such drastic reductions. Elsen suggested that UPS might be looking to replace permanent employees with less expensive freelance labor. The company reportedly intends to begin negotiations on a social plan next week, but unions plan to confer internally before proceeding.

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Our suspicion is that they want to replace permanent contracts with cheaper freelancers.

"It is disgusting to plunge all these families into uncertainty a week before the summer holidays," Elsen stated, criticizing the timing of the announcement. He added that such discussions should not occur as employees are preparing for vacation. Last June, a strike occurred at UPS in Diegem due to employee concerns about the future of the facility.

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UPS does not comment on speculation.