Blokker workers angered to find out bankrupt chain will close 100 shops earlier than planned

Union FNV has reported receiving dozens of complaints from Blokker employees over the past two days after workers learned that their stores would close earlier than expected. The bankrupt retail chain is set to shutter 100 stores by Dec. 21, moving up the timeline originally stated to have all locations close after Dec. 31.

“To optimize sales at the store level, we will close stores in phases so that the remaining inventory can be consolidated at the distribution center,” Blokker CEO Pauline Boerman wrote in a letter to employees obtained by ANP. She added that discounts in stores slated for early closure will increase faster to ensure the shelves are empty by the final day of operation.

Employees from these stores are being reassigned to other locations until Dec. 31. However, many workers are unhappy with the move, according to FNV. “Employees feel like they’re being treated like pawns. For those who’ve worked here for 20 or 30 years, this is already a heavy period, and they want to end it alongside their own colleagues,” said FNV board member Linda Vermeulen.

Vermeulen noted that many workers find it “very upsetting” to be asked to spend their final days in unfamiliar stores. While no employees have refused to comply, Vermeulen said their concerns have been relayed to the bankruptcy trustee overseeing the process.

Blokker, which was declared bankrupt last month, employed over 3,500 workers across nearly 400 stores in the Netherlands, including 45 franchise locations that remain unaffected by the bankruptcy. Years of multimillion-euro losses and increased competition from discount retailers like Action and large e-commerce platforms have strained the company.

Boerman clarified in her letter that the early closure of 100 stores does not exclude them from a potential relaunch under the Blokker name. However, trustee Jasper Berkenbosch has remained tight-lipped about efforts to find a buyer for the chain.

FNV’s Vermeulen stressed that the situation is especially challenging for long-term employees who had hoped to end their careers in familiar environments. “This period is incredibly hard for those who’ve dedicated decades to the company,” she said.