It was in connection with Northvolt’s application for reorganization in a bankruptcy court in Texas that the company applied for authorization for a series of expenses.
In the documents read by SVT, it appears that Northvolt wants to use SEK 59 million for a bonus program to get 230 key people to stay at the company during the crisis.
The bonus program was introduced before the restructuring application, according to the documents.
In its justification for approval, Northvolt wrote that “the bonus program is critical to maintaining work ethic, motivation and loyalty and avoiding business interruption during Chapter 11.”
But SVT’s revelation about the bonus program caused employees at Northvolt to react. A petition was sent around and eventually got 511 signatures.
Demands an apology from management
In the appeal, the bonus program is called unacceptable. It says the program is demotivating and demoralizing for the 5,000 Northvolt employees in various locations who are not covered by it, but still fight every day for the company’s survival.
The call ends with a demand that the bonus program be withdrawn.
An apology is also demanded from the company management.
Northvolt does not want to answer questions in an interview. The company’s press manager Erik Sziga announces in writing that “the company management is aware of the letter”.
Regarding the bonus program introduced according to the court documents, he writes that “the company has the opportunity to implement such a program if there is financial space, but there is no decision”.
In previous comments to SVT, the company has written that it is about people at different levels, with the exception of the management team, and that there would be serious consequences if key people left the company.
Unions are encouraged to request negotiations
The appeal has been sent to the unions with the request to request negotiations on the bonus program.
SVT has sought ombudsmen for the Union, Akademikerföreningen and IF Metall who received the summons, but have not received any comment on it.
Earlier this week, IF Metall’s representative in Norra Västerbotten, Lena Lundgren told SVT that they had already asked questions about the bonus program to Northvolt:
– If they intend to pay this out, they must be able to justify it to us and then we must find out who the people are. After all, it is a financial issue that can have consequences for our members as well.