Norilsk Nickel conflict unsettled

The Executive Board of the Polar Division of Norilsk Nickel assigned its Director and CEO Vitaly Bobrov to initiate a conference with the company's staff for settling the conflict with the trade union. This is the result of negotiations between the trade union and the company's management, which started on January 27, Norilsk Nickel's press service reported. The conciliation commission, created for settling the dispute, completed its activities.

As the parties have not reached any agreement within the commission, the Executive Board of the Polar Division decided to initiate the conference. In the employer's opinion, the conference is to decide on the acceptability of certain measures for settling issues in dispute. Bobrov also stressed that "the company's top management will do its best for providing stable and uninterrupted activities of all units within the Polar Division of Norilsk Nickel". The conference is to be held in the first half of March 2003.

For starting a strike, the consent of two thirds of the personnel is necessary.

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