PPS Group unionists with their head Stansialv Ľupták (L) (source: TASR)
The paying of bonuses – which is at the core of the dispute between company management and employees was announced on that day by company spokesman Ľuboš Schwarzbacher. However, this statement is not a relevant evidence that the money will be really paid, chairman of the local organisation of KOVO labour union of Podpolianske strojárne (PPS) machine works, Stanislav Ľupták, said as quoted by the TASR newswire. “The press release of the employer is not a relevant proof for us to cancel the decision on the strike,” he said.
The strike is to start on Monday, February 1, at 6:00 near the stop of the PPS Group complex and then employees will march across the premises. The consent to the strike was signed by 840 out of 969 employees.
The PPS Group failed to pay bonuses for the month of December before the due date in mid January, and thus employees organised the strike. Spokesman Schwarzbacher informed that by January 28, some outstanding liabilities of suppliers towards the company have been covered, and so PPS Group is going to pay the bonuses – which can take several days, though.
“We consider, however, bonuses for good performance for the whole year of 2015, which was loss-bringing, a part of the salary that cannot be effectively claimed," Schwarzbacher explained. “The decision not to pay the bonuses on the usual payment day was made after thorough consideration and based on negative economic result for previous month.”
Several negotiations took place before January 28 but they led to no clear result. Ľupták said they got no guarantee that the company will actually pay the money due.
