Company is lying about moving of factory in China

Ole Wolff is blaming the financial crisis for cutting jobs in China. But the employees have found out that it is negative reports of the conflict with the trade union that are losing them orders.

Klaus Buster Jensen, Fagbladet 3F, klaus.j@3f.dk

The financial crisis has led to Ole Wolff Electronic in China cutting jobs and moving their factory to smaller buildings, explains Rasmus Wolff, Managing Director.

But the company’s management in China have a completely different explanation for why the company is losing orders and so must cut down on capacity.

In a letter sent to the employees by the factory’s management, they explain that it is the negative reports of conditions for the employees and their trade union that have led to the company’s losing orders and cutting the work force by more than 50%.

The letter, which 3F have had translated, does not even mention the financial crisis. What it says is, that the union have “spread a great deal of misinformation” and “sent information to our customers with the result that the company has not taken any new orders for almost three months”.

The Managing Director is right

“But this is absolutely not true”, explains Rasmus Wolff. “We haven’t lost any customers, since the case was first made public back in August.”

- But who’s telling the truth?


“I am. I am the one who has the overview of the company’s orders. I have not seen the letter, because I cannot read Chinese. I have not even asked for a copy of the letter,” says the Danish Managing Director.

So, when the factory’s management write that you are having to cut back because of the negative reports, are they lying?

“Yes, they are. Who is paying the wages and making the orders? We are. It is not the factory’s management who talk to customers. We do. So it is us who know what is going on,” explains Rasmus Wolff.

3F: Smear campaign against the union

The local 3F Branch in Slagelse, Denmark, has been in regular contact with the union at the factory in China and with Ole Wolff, who have their headquarters in Sorø.

“I think it is completely unacceptable for the factory’s management to lie to their employees. The company’s Managing Director explains officially that they are cutting back because of the financial crisis, while they tell the employees in China, that it is the union’s fault. It is disgusting to treat the employees and their union like this,” says Hans-Jacob Mortensen, technical vice chairman.

Ole Wolff in Yantai will now have a workforce of 40 in their factory, instead of the original 150. Since the factory first opened in 2006, the employees’ trade union have accused the management of violating the employees’ rights and attempting to destroy the union.


“From the moment the employees started their trade union, the factory’s management have done their best to suppress it, for example by sacking a number of active union members. And now they blame the closure on the employees’ trade union. I think it is incredible that a Danish company in China can accept this kind of smear campaign against a trade union in one of their factories,” says Hans-Jacob Mortensen.

“Their conduct in China is in direct breach of the UN rules concerning companies responsibility for their employees rights, rules that many of Ole Wolff’s customers, including Danfoss, have ratified.”

Lagt på: 22. Oktober 2008 13:19

Sidst ændret: 22. Oktober 2008 13:26