Helsinki (07.05.2014 - Heikki Jokinen) Ten metalworkers in the town of Akaa have just won a record 57 million euro in the Eurolotto lottery. This may save their colleagues from redundancy.
Just before the news of the jackpot win, their employer, the SKS Toijala Works machinery factory, announced it would begin negotiations aimed at a reduction in the workforce. The company employs some 230 people. The SKS Group also has units in China, Poland, Sweden, Russia and Estonia.
However, five of the winners have said they are now ready to quit their jobs. The CEO Pasi Kannisto says that this might be enough to hold back on negotiations with regard to personnel cuts. The jobs in question could be filled by internal transfers. "We need workers to replace the lotto winners", he says.
Kannisto believes it is extremely likely that one of the reasons behind the decision of those ‘lucky ones’ who have decided to quit their jobs is solidarity with other colleagues in the factory.