Negotiations on staff cut-backs concluded
Negotiations on staff cut-backs concluded Stena Line has today concluded its negotiations with the SFBF, SEKO and HTF trade unions regarding staff cut-backs in Sweden. A total of 660 employees are affected. "Unfortunately, a staff cut-back is completely unavoidable. It is part of a necessary rationalization, and of our adjustment to the disappearance of tax- free sales in July," says Stena Line's President Bo Severed. For SEKO's seamen and their agreement area, 408 jobs of a total of 1 010 will be cut. Most cuts will take effect on 1 September this year. For SFBF (marine officers), 134 jobs of a total of 191 will be cut in the catering operations on board. For HTF's agreement area, around 120 jobs will be cut from the land-based or- ganization. Around 50 of these cuts affect permanently employed staff. The completion of the new organization is planned for the period following this year's peak season. Employees affected will be informed within the next few days. A number of information meetings will be held during the spring for all staff who are given notice, and representatives from Stena Line's Human Resources Department, as well as from the trade unions, the Swedish Employment Office (Arbetsförmedlingen) and Trygghets-rådet will be participating. Altogether, Stena Line will be reducing its staff by 760, as opposed to an earlier announcement of about 800. Around 45 employees will leave through early retirement. In connection with the closure of the Halmstad -Grenå ferry route on January 31, 1999, 102 of the 760 have already left the company. During 1998, the average number of employees in the Stena Line Group was 6 554 whereof 3 400 were employed within the Scandinavian operations. Göteborg, February 26, 1999 Stena Line AB Bo Severed President and CEO Any questions can be directed to Bo Severed on tel: +46 31 85 83 19, or +46 703 77 66 00. ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/02/26/19990226BIT00380/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/02/26/19990226BIT00380/bit0002.pdf