Energy Workers Demand 15% Raise
The union representing workers at Eesti Energia's Narva Power Plants decided on Saturday to demand a salary increase of 15 percent after talks on a collective agreement broke down over two weeks ago.
Vladimir Aleksejev, the head of the Narva Energia Union, said workers are demanding that the raise be made retroactive to January 1 and that their salaries increase a further 10 percent from 2014.
The union has threatened to call a strike if its demands are not met but has not set a date for the action.
Tõnu Aas, the head of Narva Power Plants, told ETV that the company has made a counteroffer.
“Today, we can offer a 7-percent increase with the terms and conditions of the old contract remaining unchanged. The workers have earned the 7-percent rise,” he said.
The Eesti Energia subsidiary, which runs the nation's two largest electricity production facilities, employs over 700 people.
“Where the point of compromise lies, we can’t yet say. Maybe if both sides show readiness to make concessions then we will be able to reach an agreement,” said chair of the Trade Union Confederation, Harri Taliga.
Last week, workers at another Eesti Energia subsidiary, in that case Eesti Energia Mining, reached an agreement to avert a strike. The miners will receive a salary increase of 7 percent after initially demanding 20 percent.