Saint-Gobain Glass in Spain informed unions on 18 February 2009 that its proposed temporary lay-offs in the Sekurit autoglass division at the Avils plant (north-west Spain) will last 28 days, which in…
Saint-Gobain Glass in Spain informed unions on 18 February 2009 that its proposed temporary lay-offs in the Sekurit autoglass division at the Avils plant (north-west Spain) will last 28 days, which in practice will mean stopping activity throughout the month of March. The measure will affect 170 employees, excluding those over 54 years of age because of the negative effects on pension calculation, the works committee indicated. The lay-offs will last for 28 days although rotatation will ensure only 18 to 22 days of inactivity per worker. In addition, company management warned of the possibility of similar further measures in the 2H of 2009 unless there is a revival of the sector. The temporary lay-offs at Aviles are not the only ones in Saint-Gobain Spain: at the Arbs (Catalunya) Sekurit plant there will be 34 days of lay-offs plus 21 rest days. Meanwhile, a new round of bargaining on the collective contract ended on 18 February 2009 without progress. The company raised its pay offer to 1% on top of the real consumer price index , while the unions argued for 2.3% to be reviewed if inflation exceeds 1.8%.