Vladimir Alekseyev, head of the Narva Trade unions association, said unemployed local power engineers was one of the main problems in Narva, a city near the Russian border plagued by economic and social problems. He said the city had more than enough renovation workers that could handle the current renovation work.
But companies contracted to do the work have so far largely looked abroad for skilled workers.
"If our complaints are not heard and local specialists get no jobs, we will have to take radical steps and block access to the objects to be renovated," he said.
Alekseyev said Narva trade unions thought it would be impossible for local renovation companies to get subcontracts from Foster Wheeler Energy OY, the main contractor from Finland. He estimates that up to 80 percent of the work can be done by locals.
"Of course at some stages we would need more people, especially qualified welders, and we'd invite them from abroad," said Alekseyev.
The stations' power-generating boilers in need of renovation might be blocked by local workers protesting against the use of foreign labor.
Alekseyev said the trade unions had information on alleged breaches of the labor act taking place in the companies already hired by Foster Wheeler Energy OY.
"We have information on envelope salaries and too many working hours. But we get no permit to enter when we want to officially inspect the working areas," he said.
A Polish company was awarded the contract for mounting the power-generating boiler and a Czech firm will be responsible for assembling auxiliary equipment.
Alekseyev said he suspected the two companies would hire illegal workers not only from Poland and the Czech Republic, but also from Russia and Ukraine.
"That would cause a dumping of labor costs and neglect of Estonia's laws," Alekseyev said.
According to Alekseyev, the trade unions association met several government officials at various levels, who he said were indifferent toward employment woes in Narva.
Meetings with Prime Minister Siim Kallas and Minister of Social Affairs Siiri Oviir produced no results.
Mati Kaare, the representative of Foster Wheeler Energy OY in the Baltics, said he thought the trade unions were lobbying in the interest of specific companies, not Narva's workforce.
He said many of the trade unions' members worked for the same company, Alstom Power Estonia Ltd.
"As for accusing us or the sub-contractors of breaking the law, that's a very serious statement they (the trade unions) have to prove," said Kaare.
He said the action planned by the unions association was misguided.
"Would Narva power stations announce an international tender if the locals could do the renovation themselves?" he said.
Most local companies are simply too small to handle the renovation contracts, he said.
"However they still have chances to become subcontractors of our subcontractors because the general labor force from Narva is cheaper," said Kaare.
Renovation at the plant is expected to end later this summer.
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