Greetings of solidarity to the employees of Nokia plant in Bochum

Please receive our warmest solidarity greetings from Finland to all the employees of Nokia plant in Bochum. Finnish communists condemn the decision of Nokia Corporation to shut down in Bochum the profitable plant, employees of which have shown high professionalism, commitment to their work and excellent results.

Nokia Corporation has shamelessly abused the favorable conditions and support to industrial production created by Bochum and Nordrhein-Westfalen and estimated in 88 million euros. To launch the production in Romania the Nokia Corporation is planning to receive similar public subsidies as in Bochum.

The irresponsible behavior of the Nokia Corporation in Bochum cannot be explained otherwise than by greedy and short sighted profit seeking, measured quarterly a year. The billion profits of the Corporation show that there is no real economical need/necessity to dump salaries of the Bochum employees. On the contrary, the colossal profits should be cut to guarantee the working places and the research and development activities.

For us in the Finnish workers´ movement it is natural and easy to express our solidarity to you, because of the behavior of Nokia and other big companies in Finland. The Nokia Corporation has in recent years transferred its subcontracts and basic production to low-salary countries and thereby reduced staff in Finland. The other important industrial branch of us, the wood industry is at the moment shutting down several factories and kicking out thousands of workers. The neo-liberal policies in the EU have encouraged the big corporations.

By common struggle, supporting each other across the national borders in the real CONNECTING PEOPLE -spirit we can defend our professionalism, out industries and working places, our communities and families.

Central Committee of the CP of Finland 19.01.2008