Disconnected workers at Nokia declare lack of faith in their company
“Nokia is no longer a social company”, trade unionists acknowledged at today’s coordination meeting, which took place at the EMF in Brussels.
Retracing the way Nokia announced, on 15th January, its intention to close the Bochum site, workers’ representatives came to the conclusion that Nokia made a mockery of its obligation to inform and consult its employees in line with the EU Directive on European Works Councils and German law.
Photos available at: http://www.eup-images.com (by Horst Wagner, photojournalist).
Workers’ representatives from Bochum expressed their incomprehension of Nokia’s intention. “Since 2003, workers have been working cooperatively with local management. Productivity, conditions of delivery, quality and the overall profitability of the site have improved. Workers have shown flexibility in terms of working time. Nokia’s decision cannot be based on financial rationale”.
Considering Nokia’s behaviour towards its employees and incomprehensible decision to close Bochum, trade union representatives expressed serious concerns that other sites could also be affected in the near future.
At today’s Nokia trade union coordination meeting the EMF and its affiliates decided on a coordinated response to management’s announced decision to close the factory in Bochum.
The trade union representatives agreed on the way forward to have workers’ representation rights respected at Nokia:
- An urgent extraordinary meeting of the European Works Council (EWC) must be convened because of the unacceptable praxis used by management in information and consultation of the employees at Nokia. This meeting will need to take place before the Nokia supervisory board meeting on 28th February.
- A joint (European Works Council, trade unions and Nokia management) investigation is to commence to clarify if there has been a breach of the European works council agreement and two legal experts have been hired for the purpose.
- A joint declaration was also agreed upon today stating that:
- The trade unions strongly object to the announced decision to close the plant in Bochum
- The trade unions do not agree with the form of which the procedure has been handled
- The trade unions also wish to engage in constructive talks with management as soon as possible
- The EMF intends to send an information letter to all employees at Nokia to inform them about the latest events.
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Press 7/2008
For further information please contact:
Editor, Peter Scherrer, EMF General Secretary
The EMF is the representative body defending the interests of workers in the European metal industry. The EMF has a mandate for the external representation and coordination of the metalworkers' unions and a mandate to engage in bargaining at European level.
