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UNI says Swiss retailer Manor must respect union rights
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UNI Global Union today said Swiss retailer Manor must respect union rights and re-instate an employee and union activist who was fired for speaking publicly about workers’ rights. Marisa Pralong lost her position in February as a salesperson at a Manor department store in Geneva after she was quoted in a local newspaper speaking out against extended working hours for retail employees. She never mentioned the name of her employer and only spoke as an official representative of retail workers in Geneva. Pralong is a vocal representative for Swiss union UNIA. She has urged Manor to respect Swiss labour laws in her store as well as an advocate for retail workers at other stores in Geneva. She is seeking re-instatement at Manor, which she thinks will send a strong message that the company respects union rights. |
She says her firing intimidated her colleagues who fear that advocating for better conditions will cost them their positions.
“I am a sales representative but I am also a unionist too,” Pralong said. “We can’t fight for our rights without risking our jobs.”
Manor says it did not fire Pralong for her union activity and refuses to reinstate her. It has offered her money instead to settle her complaint, which she refuses to accept.
Along with its talks with Manor management in Geneva and at the company’s headquarters in Berne, UNIA has started a petition and a blog in support of Pralong’s cause.
UNI is supporting the Swiss union’s campaign in support of Marisa Pralong and union rights for Swiss retail workers. Alke Boessiger, head of UNI Commerce, will meet with Manor executives in Berne to discuss its union rights policy and Pralong’s case in general.
“Manor is one of Switzerland’s largest retail employers and we want to ensure that they are following Swiss labour law and are treating their employees with respect,” Boessiger said.
Sign the petition here: http://www.geneve.unia.ch/Manor-Une-deleguee-syndicale.3181.0.html?&L=0
Read the blog here: http://manorabuse.blogspot.com/
Watch video (in French):