Hundreds Protest Nestlé Waters Sale Fears Ahead of Employee Meeting
A large demonstration took place on Monday at Nestlé Waters headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland, with around a hundred people protesting against the proposed sale of the company's bottled water division. The demonstration comes ahead of a scheduled meeting on Tuesday between the European Information and Consultation Committee (CICEN) and Nestlé representatives to discuss employees' concerns.
The protesters, including trade union delegations from seven European countries, marched from the Place du Marché to the company's headquarters, carrying a banner that read 'The future of Nestlé Waters workers is not for sale'. Their leaflet highlighted concerns about job security and production sites, citing previous Nestlé partnerships and disposals that had often resulted in plant closures and job losses.
The demonstration follows a controversy that has been ongoing since early 2024. Nestlé Waters has been accused of using banned treatments at various bottling sites for brands such as Vittel, Perrier, Hépar, and Contrex. In one instance, Nestlé Waters Switzerland was ordered to pay compensation of CHF500,000 ($626,000) for using non-compliant carbon filters at its Henniez facility.
Christoph Kauffmann, co-chairman of Nestlé's European Information and Consultation Committee, acknowledged that divesting a division like bottled water was not uncommon for Nestlé when it is no longer profitable or when there are scandals.
The upcoming meeting between the CICEN and Nestlé representatives on Tuesday will provide an opportunity for employees to voice their concerns and seek assurances about their future. The company has not yet commented on the proposed sale of its bottled water division, but the demonstration and the scheduled meeting highlight the level of concern among employees and the need for dialogue and transparency.
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