There is still no agreement between fired trade unionists and the Danish electronic company, Ole Wolff, in China.
Ole Wolff rejects agreement with Chinese trade union
Klaus Buster Jensen, Fagbladet 3F, klaus.j@3f.dk
There is no solution in the pipeline for the trade union of Ole Wolff’s employees at their factory in China. That is the state of play after one month’s criticism of Ole Wolff and their treatment of the employees’ trade union.
This despite the fact that two weeks ago Managing Director Rasmus Wolff promised to reach an agreement with the trade union at the company’s factory at Yantai in China. The management have sacked the chairperson of the union. They are withholding the mandatory membership fee (2% of their wages) and the working papers of the man they fired. The management have also fired six employees illegally. This is the claim of Zhang Jun, union representative.
But Rasmus Wolff denies all these accusations, and explains that the six union members who were fired have been offered compensation for their illegal dismissal.
Au Loong-Yu of the independent NGO Globalization Monitor is following closely the conflict at the Ole Wolff factory.
“It seems that the company is still refusing to enter into serious negotiations with the trade union. In terms of how the situation has developed, there is no reason to believe that the company will come to an agreement”, says Au Loong-Yu.
An offer, but no agreement
In the case of the six illegal dismissals, the trade union and the factory’s managers have negotiated a solution.
After a meeting with the union representative last week, Ole Wolff Yantai have ordered the six men compensation amounting to three months’ pay.
“Now we have calculated what they are owed in compensation according to Chinese law, so they are welcome to come and collect it,” says Rasmus Wolff.
But there is no sign of an agreement with the union, who are demanding between 10 and 24 months’ pay for the men who have been sacked. The six men have not been able to take new work for up to two years, because the company is withholding their working papers.
“At the meeting on 11th September the company claimed that their offer of compensation complied with Chinese regulations. We asked them to show us immediately what regulations they were referring to, but they had no answer for us,” says Zhang Jun, a consultant for the employees’ trade union.
Ole Wolff is dishonest
Rasmus Wolff denies the other accusations aimed at the company by the employees’ trade union.
“The chairperson was not sacked unlawfully, but because she did not abide by our signed agreements,” explains Rasmus Wolff. “And it is wrong to state that the factory’s management have withheld their union membership fees and working papers.”
However, Hans-Jacob Mortensen, technical vice chairman of 3F, disagrees strongly with the above statement.
“It is frivolous and dishonest. First they stated that they wished to solve the conflict. Now they refuse to reach an agreement with the trade union,” he says.
“There is no connection between what they previously stated in Denmark and what they are actually doing now in China. They have had a whole month to solve the problems, but nothing has happened,” says Hans-Jacob Mortensen.
He intends to continue discussions with Ole Wolff’s headquarters in Sorø, but sees no imminent way out.
“It would send a strong signal, if Ole Wolff simply did what they have promised and came to an agreement with the trade union. This would be the best for everyone involved.”
Lagt på: 22. Oktober 2008 13:02
Sidst ændret: 22. Oktober 2008 13:17
