Probation Service employees warn of strike

RIGA - By tomorrow [Oct. 25], the State Probation Service Employees’ Union (LPDA) will submit a petition to State Probation Service head Aleksandrs Dementjevs, demanding higher salaries and bonuses. If these demands are not met, the union will assess the possibility of staging a strike.

LPDA Chairwoman Anita Romanova informed LETA that the trade union sent a letter to Dementjevs, Justice Minister Janis Bordans (VL-TB/LNNK), Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis (Unity) and Saeima members yesterday, informing about its implemented measures in the struggle for the interests of its members.

"Despite separate accomplishments in the trade union's struggle for its members' rights, LPDA board believes that these activities have not been efficient enough to inform and convince the wider public and policy makers about the necessity to solve issues at the State Probation Service and allot additional funds in the 2013 budget and it is necessary to turn to more efficient methods of defending collective interests," writes the trade union.

LPDA demands raising salaries to 400 lats (569 euros) after taxes as of Jan. 1, 2013. According to the trade union, this must be achieved without any layoffs.

As reported, the State Probation Service Employees' Union has been trying to achieve higher taxes for several months. On Sept. 21, the trade union staged a protest at the Cabinet of Ministers' building, bringing together 150 Probation Service employees from all over Latvia.