2013 Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union Rights - Latvia
Publisher | International Trade Union Confederation |
Publication Date | 6 June 2013 |
Cite as | International Trade Union Confederation, 2013 Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union Rights - Latvia, 6 June 2013, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/51b851662f.html [accessed 19 May 2023] |
Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Anti-union discrimination and disrespect of a collective agreement: Port managers in Liepaja dismissed 10 members of the Liepaja Port Staff Professional Organisation accusing them of theft after failed attempts to breach the union's collective agreement by trying to force them to accept different wage levels. However, under Latvian labour law, a trade union member cannot be dismissed without prior approval from the union. By September 2012, the court had rejected seven applications from the employer to dismiss the workers and deemed one suspension illegal.
Intimidation of trade union members by the employer: Aero navigational service provider SJSC "Latvian Air Traffic" – invited air traffic controllers in small groups to the management office and asked each of them about his or her membership in the trade union, and whether he or she agrees with the complaint previously addressed and sent to the Minister for Transport signed by the trade union chairperson Mrs. Ausra Straume.
Anti-union discrimination against trade union leaders: In March 2012, Ausra Straume was suspended from her air traffic controller duties and was prohibited from entering and residing at the premises of SJSC "Latvian Air Traffic". Disciplinary investigations against her did not reveal any infringements of labour discipline. She was suspended for three months and was restricted in carrying out her functions as chairperson of the Latvian Air Traffic Controller's Trade Union as she had limited access to the union premises. On 13 March 2012 the employer issued an order prohibiting A. Straume from entering the company premises without special permission from the employer.
Collective agreements are disrespected: In April 2012, the Latvian Post and Telecommunications Workers' Trade Union (LSAB) elected a representative to the board of the private pension fund as agreed in paragraph 109 of the collective agreement between LSAB and Lattelcom. However, during the meeting of JSC "First Closed Pension Fund" stakeholders on 24 May 2012, Lattelecom nominated two employer representatives. The LSAB representative was thus excluded from further board participation.