site.bta Trade Union Says VMZ Ordnance Plant Is Being Pushed Intentionally Towards Bankruptcy

Trade Union Says VMZ Ordnance Plant Is Being Pushed Intentionally Towards Bankruptcy

Sofia, July 16 (BTA) - According to the Confederation of
Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB), the VMZ Sopot
Ordnance Plant is being led towards bankruptcy intentionally,
the aim being to change the ownership of the plant by means of
the procedure, the CITUB chapter of the workers in the branch
said in an opinion distributed by CITUB on Thursday.
   
In the opinion of the trade union, what is going on currently at
 VMZ Sopot are just staff changes which benefit someone, as well
 as "inspections" announced in public but the results of which
are not known to anyone to date.

On Monday, workers from VMZ Sopot threatened to make a tent camp
 in front of the Ministry of Economy to protest against the new
Board of Directors it appointed a month ago. Economy Minister
Bozhidar Loukarski has ordered an inspection to check how the
new management works.
   
CITUB fears that because of lack of normal production process
the excuse of the management that repairs of basic machines and
equipment cannot be made, and from there that production of
final products is impossible, means that it will be impossible
to pay the salaries and insurance contributions of the 2,500
workers in the company and permanent jobs will be lost.
   
The trade union expresses concern that in a couple of months VMZ
 Sopot will be in production and financial collapse, adding that
 this can be overcome with a new and professional management of
the company.
   
The trade union leadership and the members of the local chapter
are ready to undertake trade union and civil actions to defend
the future of the ordnance plant in Sopot, their jobs and the
upkeep of their families, CITUB added in the press
release.