Russia: Heineken Union holds a work-to-rule action
Workers at Heineken's brewery in St. Petersburg are holding a work-to-rule action ahead of talks with management, plant union leader Valery Sokolov said, according to The Moscow Times, April 17.
The work-to-rule otherwise known as a slowdown, began Friday is is over a 30 percent salary-raise demand and other concessions.
A spokeswoman for Heineken said the action fizzled out over the weekend, but Sokolov said it was continuing Monday.
"Finally, we've won [an opportunity to hold] talks with the management," Sokolov said. "We've achieved everything we wanted."
The union is trying to get the talks brought forward from April 26, Sokolov said. Anna Meleshina, a Heineken spokeswoman, said the brewery ended a two-day slowdown after refusing to work because of equipment faults.
Production output decreased by at least 50 percent, said Sokolov, adding that the work-to-rule was costing Heineken 10 million rubles ($390,000) per shift.
"This is a lie," said Meleshina. "Not a kopek" has been lost due to the action, and employees returned to normal work Sunday, she said.
Kommersant on Monday cited Sokolov as saying the strike involved about three-quarters of the brewery's employees and demands included a 30 percent rise in monthly salaries, extra pay increases for occupational hazards, and annual bonuses.
The brewery employs 1,200 people, of whom 248 are members of one labor union and 128 belong to another, Meleshina said. Some workers on April 6 demanded salary increases, she said.
The firm will review the request within one month, before sending a response, Meleshina said.
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