Moldova sugar workers demand their wages - and their union leaders’ freedom (+ E action)

[Omaha Steve]

http://cms.iuf.org/?q=node/753



Union members from Moldova’s bankrupt Glodeni-Zahar sugar company – formerly the largest in the country - made the 3-hour journey to the capital Chisinau today to demonstrate in defense of their wages and their union leaders’ freedom. Workers at the plant, which at its peak employed some 500 people, have not been paid their wages since June 2009.

In November 2009 Glodeni-Zahar filed for bankruptcy and operations ceased, unleashing a battle over 2,500 tons of warehoused sugar with a market value of some USD 2.8 million which the workers rightly view as the only guarantee of their wage and benefit arrears.

In March 2010, with the company under bankruptcy administration, the administrator entered into an illegal agreement to sell the sugar to a company called Viktomax Sistem. The sale was illegal, because according to Moldova’s bankruptcy law a meeting of creditors – including those owed wages - should have been convened within 45 days of the formal opening of bankruptcy proceedings. The meeting has never taken place.

The union successfully filed to have the sugar impounded until the court decides the fate of their wages. The bankruptcy administrator, failed to attend scheduled hearings, and the workers are now not even included on the creditors’ list. However, the fact that the company remains in bankruptcy proceedings has not stopped the court administrator from selling the sugar.

Snip: You can support their struggle - click here to send a message to the Moldovan authorities demanding the workers are paid their wages and benefits and all criminal charges are lifted immediately and unconditionally.

FULL story at link.