Saab‘s largest white-collar union says unless its members are paid, it will file for the automaker’s bankruptcy, a process that could start within two weeks.
Unionen, which represents 1,000 of Saab’s 1,600 management staff, estimates it will take seven days to collate precise salary details from its members following the manufacturer’s announcement it was not able to pay white-collar staff wages.
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The news plunges Saab into yet further upheaval as it struggles to secure investment approval for two Chinese partners in order to restart production at its currently shuttered plant in Trollhattan.
“We have sent a letter to the company and said now you have to pay all salaries to members and if you don’t do it, within seven days we will send a claim for bankruptcy,” Unionen chief legal advisor Martin Waestfelt told just-auto from Sweden.
Waestfelt said the first time any Saab bankruptcy claim could be made would be seven days after the letter, meaning the process could start within two weeks.
The wage halt is the second time in two months Unionen members have not been paid, with problems in June eventually being resolved, but the labour body is baring its teeth this time around.
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By GlobalData“If the company can’t pay, we will file for bankruptcy,” said Waestfelt. “It is a real big problem for all our members who need their salaries – salaries are the last thing you don’t pay – it is a serious situation.
“If it will be bankruptcy, if you don’t act immediately, you could lose your salaries. Unionen’s position is to handle the situation in the same way we handle every situation – it is no different between this and other companies.”
Earlier this week, Saab delayed payment of wages to its white-collar employees as some of the funds that were committed by investors were not paid in time.
The automaker noted it was: “taking all necessary actions to collect these funds and continues discussions with various parties to obtain additional short-term funding so that the payments can be made.”
