European trade unions take action against planned Estonian bank Luminor
European services workers union UNI has hit out against Luminor, the joint bank being established by a merger of the Baltic operations of Nordea and DNB, calling for its members to support Baltic trade unions complaining about lack of cooperation between the banks' Baltic managements and the unions.
UNI wants the Estonian managements of DNB and Nordea to accept social dialogue and the rights of employees in the merger in a way appropriate for a Nordic employer, the organization said.
Chairman of the Estonian Trade Union Confederation (EAKL) Peep Peterson agreed that it is important for both parties to immediately return to the negotiation table. "Personally pressuring representatives of the employees must be excluded," he stressed.
Employees of the planned Luminor bank have since last year held negotiations with bank management regarding layoff benefits. No agreement has yet been reached and UNI said that representatives of Nordea's management have abandoned negotiations. According to UNI, the management of the planned Luminor bank has not agreed to sign a collective agreement either.
UNI Global Union is a Swiss-based umbrella organization for skills and services workers which represents more than 20 million employees from 900 trade unions.
Editor: Aili Vahtla
Source: BNS
