“This dismissal, in addition to being unfair, if not stopped, will have drastic consequences in terms of labor confidence among the excellent professionals at Nokia,” states STT in a statement, asserting that “the argument used by the company is misleading and based on a ‘virtual’ reality debunked by actual labor activities.”
According to the union, the multinational’s management is “targeting workers who legitimately opposed the transfer to Capgemini,” placing “their immediate interests and those of shareholders above respect for workers.”
The eight employees involved received notification of the intended dismissal on Monday, stating: “From the date of receipt of this notice, and due to the non-existence of tasks that you can perform, you will be exempt from providing work, without loss of remuneration, until the end of the collective dismissal process now initiated.”
Expressing “serious doubts about the legality of this process” and questioning the stated rationale, the STT believes there is “a clear and gross violation of the duty of effective occupation.”
The union has requested an urgent meeting with Nokia’s human resources “to demand the suspension of the process and to defend the rights and dignity of the workers,” questioning: “Today the collective dismissal involves eight workers. How many will it encompass in a new reorganization tomorrow?”
The STT also warns of possible future dismissals if the Government’s labor package progresses, which it describes as “even more ’employer-friendly’ legislation.”
In February 2024, Nokia Portugal carried out a collective dismissal of about 140 workers, then justified by the “redefinition of the cost base.”
“The redefinition of the cost base is a necessary step to adjust to the challenging macroeconomic environment and to ensure our long-term profitability and competitiveness,” the tech company’s spokesperson told Lusa at the time, adding, “we remain confident in future opportunities.”
