Vol. 64/No.18 May 8, 2000

Labor news briefs

Finland: Paper strike ends

After an eight-day strike, some 30,000 paper workers in Finland began returning to work after union officials accepted a new three-year contract. The walkout, which began April 11, shut down most of Finland's pulp and paper industry. The new pact reportedly provides for a 4 percent wage increase and gives the workers an extra paid holiday each year. Finland produces about 4.4 percent of the 350 million tons of annual production of paper and paperboard worldwide.

Tentative pact at Northwest

Officials of flight attendants union at Northwest Airlines and the company have reached a tentative agreement that, if ratified, would end a three-year contract dispute at the nation's fourth-largest airline. The Teamsters union, which represents the 11,000 attendants, says the pact would increase base pay by 29 percent to 120 percent, depending on seniority. According to an announcement made by the officials, the deal improves pensions, domestic-partner health benefits, and provides for work rules that add protections for flight attendants. Last August a proposed agreement was rejected by 70 percent.

Union decertified at Wal-Mart

The Ontario Labor Board approved a decision by Retail Wholesale Canada, a division of the Canadian Auto workers, to end its right to represent workers at a Wal-Mart store in Windsor, Ontario. In 1996, this store became the first in the Wal-Mart chain to be unionized. The union was certified after filing charges with the labor board that Wal-Mart interfered with its organizing efforts. At the time the officially counted vote was announced to be 151-43 against union representation. Over the next three years the company waged a campaign to convince the majority of workers to decertify the union.

Czech miners stage sit-in

Hundreds of people rallied in the Czech Republic April 15 in support of a group of miners staging an underground protest. Forty-six miners at the Kohinoor colliery in Northern Bohemia began their sit-in 16 days earlier over threats to close the mine and eliminate jobs. The workers have threatened to keep up this protest until the locally-owned mine is sold to a company that will guarantee their jobs.

Indonesia: Fired workers protest

Some 2,500 textile workers fired by PT Roda Vivatex organized a protest at the Bogor Council April 17, demanding local authorities there back their fight to regain their jobs. The company fired the workers several days after they carried out protests at the factory in Citereup. The workers were demanding that the company increase their pay to meet the government's minimum wage of US$38 per month. They also demanded the company increase their meal and shift allowances.

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