Leoni retaliated Feb. 22 by barring protesters from their workplaces and offering them to hand in their dismissals. Leoni boss, Verner Gaillinger, met with the protesters Feb. 21, saying he is not going to improve work conditions and raise salaries.

The average monthly pay at the plant amounts to $200. Workers must work weekends and are obliged to fulfill 110% of their daily rate. Work conditions are aggravated by a non-stop conveyer system and numerous bans that humiliate workers’ dignity, with workforce turnover reaching 25% a year. This indicates, workers say, employer’s infringement on human rights and merciless exploitation of their cheap labor.

Leoni managers, workers say, take unfair advantage of low living standards in the adjacent territories, making it possible to dismiss employees and hire new ones.

There was no strike at the plant, otherwise it would have been officially declared, Leoni deputy general director Andry Kholodyan says.

“No official strike has been announced. We were in talks with employees, they are satisfied and everything has been settled,” he stressed.

Andry Kholodyan said he will comment later on the allegations that workers had been barred from work and offered to write applications for voluntary dismissals.

According to our source, Leoni employees get $1.2-1.3 per hour, demanding that their pay be raised to $1.8-2.0. Journalists were banned to enter the plant, while management vowed to release their statement after the talks with protesters are over. Workers originally intended to go on strike, but since the action was ill-prepared and did not comply with the contract conditions, they backed off fearing sanctions and dismissals.

In September 2006, Leoni workers went on strike demanding higher pay.

 Leoni Wiring Systems plant was opened on June 15, 2003. At Euro 35 million, the company is the largest foreign investment in the Lviv oblast.

Leoni makes car cable wiring systems for car-manufacturing plant, notably, General Motors and Porsche.