Romania: Electrolux employees on strike for two weeks

Conflict over the signature of a collective agreement.  Since January 24, the Romanian household appliance manufacturing plant owned by the Swedish group has been paralyzed.  Why?  Because 850 employees (95 percent of whom are union members) are on strike.  The conflict lay dormant since the end of last year, when the negotiations for the signature of a new collective agreement failed.  Employers are asking for the conclusion of a new collective agreement, arguing that the management is trying to “reduce their rights.”  Indeed, if no agreement is signed at company, the less favorable provisions of the sectoral agreement or, if there isn’t one, the minimum provisions of the new Labor Code, in force since last year, will apply.  They are also calling for a wage increase in the amount of RON 100 (nearly €23) on January 1, 2012 and another, still in the amount of RON 100, in September 2012.  Electrolux management claims that it sent unions legal, decent proposals – based on the new Labor Code, which they refused.