1 February, 2008... Concluded trade unionists at a European Metalworkers' Federation trade union coordination meeting, following the announced closure of the Nokia plant in Bochum, Germany.
GERMANY: That Nokia is no longer a socially responsible company, was one of the conclusions of a union coordinating meeting organised by the European Metalworkers' Federation (EMF) on January 30 in Brussels, bringing together representatives of unions from eight countries in which Nokia is present, including Hungary and Romania.
The meeting took place after the Nokia group management in Finland announced its plans to close down its site in Bochum, Germany. The plant in Bochum, which produces cell phones, was built with financial support from the government of North Rhine Westphalia.
For the workers' representatives and their union, IG Metall, the announcement of the intention to close the plant was totally unexpected as the plant does not make losses -- on the contrary. On the same day as the trade union meeting in Brussels, German newspapers reported that according to an internal company report the plant made a profit of 151 million euros in 2007, which is about 90,000 euros per worker.
In order to maintain the plant's competitiveness, workers' representatives have worked closely together with the local management. "Productivity, conditions of delivery, quality and the overall profitability of the plant have improved. Workers have shown flexibility in terms of working time. Nokia's decision cannot be based on financial rationale," stated the unions in an EMF press statement.
IG Metall made clear that if Nokia succeeds in closing this competitive and profitable plant it will be the start of a new development where no plant can be certain of its future. Instead, workers will face the risk that production will be moved to another plant where companies can make even more profit.
EMF and European Works' Council Nokia, called Euro-Forum, decided to launch a legal investigation into whether Nokia's announcement of its plan has violated the Directive of the European Union on European Works' Councils, which requires information and consultation to take place. Two legal experts have been hired for this purpose.
A joint declaration was also agreed upon, stating:
• Trade unions strongly object to the announced decision to close the plant in Bochum,
• Trade Unions also do not agree with the form of which the procedure has been handled, and
• the EMF demands the management to engage in constructive talks with the trade unions and workers' representatives.
The Euro-Forum will demand a meeting with management before the end of this month. On February 28 a meeting of the supervisory board of the German Nokia company has been called where the Board, dominated by representatives of Nokia, will probably decide on the closure of the plant in Bochum.
If Nokia does not respond to the demands and tries to push through its intention at the supervisory board meeting the participating unions agreed to discuss further actions.