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30 June, 2008
Salaried Workers’ Union of Finland Wins Bonuses for Stora Enso in Court Decision
Toimihenkilöunioni TU, the ICEM Salaried Workers’ Union in Finland, won a key court case on 19 June in a district court in Oulu. A judge has ordered pulp and paper company Stora Enso to pay €100,000 to 90 workers who were denied bonuses because of a non-transparent clause in their work agreements.
The clause cited “certain conditions” as a precursor in denying workers profit-related bonuses. The company enacted the language when workers participated in a strike last year. The company was ordered to pay the sum, plus interest, to the 90 salaried workers.
“The decision to hide this condition reflects the recklessness of Stora Enso’s personnel policy,” stated TU President Antti Rinne. “The company was not acting in a way that is likely to instill commitment from its employees.”
Added TU Legal Unit Director Else-Mai Kirvesniemi, “To punish (these workers) because of their trade union activity does not correspond to the Finnish idea and practice of justice.”
TU is now pursuing legal remedies in court for 1,000 other Stora Enso salaried workers at 12 locations. The union claims the company owes those workers €1 million.