The Viking and Valxhom case, currently before the CJCE, involves the freedom to provide services and trade unions' right to act. The European Commission is due to give its observations to the Court at the end of April. The European Trade union Confederation (ETUC) is maintaining the pressure by saying that this conflict's solution is important for workers all over Europe and for the public opinion. (Ref. 06389)
In the Viking case, a Finnish company, after having transferred one of its boats under Estonian flag, negotiated with Estonian trade unions a collective agreement for its personnel. The Finnish trade union of seamen suspects the company of practicing social dumping, and is supported by the international Federation of transport workers. The trade union threatened Viking to launch collective actions if it did not comply with the Finnish collective agreement. The question submitted to the CJCE is
…Do you have information to share with us?