Matti Kataja says Northvolt trains managers and employees on workplace safety issues.
A reported ammonia gas leak prompted Johan Lindholm to immediately travel to Skellefteå to visit Northvolt.
Upon arrival, he met with union representatives and safety officers who described the situation.
– It was crucial to understand the broader context, he said.
– They clearly enjoy their work and really want the project to succeed, but they also experienced a culture of silence.
Lindholm noted the factory's diverse workforce, with over a hundred nationalities and many middle managers from different cultures. As the factory continues to rapidly expand, it's still in a growth phase.
– The union members on-site have done an exceptional job, but there needs to be an environment where people feel heard and valued, not discouraged, he emphasized.
– This highlights the importance of addressing the culture of silence.
– This culture sometimes manifests itself in harsh words and reprimands from middle managers who fail to understand the need for collaboration to improve the work environment, Lindholm explained.
He also had a meeting with the company's senior management.
Did you feel they listened?
– Absolutely: it was a very productive conversation. There will be training that aligns well with new industrial processes, new chemicals, and other relevant areas. We agreed to work on these issues together, the union and the company.
Lindholm pointed out that in workplaces with multiple stakeholders, responsibility for the work environment can become unclear.
– It's easy to forget that the employer bears ultimate responsibility, he said.
– The more companies and actors involved, regardless of location, the more blurred the responsibility becomes, he said.
– However, I'm confident that things will start to change now, he added.
– There is a real willingness from both sides to address the issues.
Regarding the ongoing investigations into recent deaths of Northvolt workers, Lindholm preferred to wait for their conclusions before making any statements.
– It's difficult to speculate on what happened. We didn't discuss individual incidents.
He is now leaving the matter in the hands of local representatives.
– But they will receive our help and support if needed, Lindholm assured.
Matti Kataja, Northvolt's communications chief, agreed that the meeting with Lindholm was productive.
– We had the opportunity to explain how Northvolt is strengthening its workplace organization, building new internal knowledge, and improving internal communication. We're also working to train both employees and managers on workplace issues. We share the view that cooperation and dialogue between employers and unions are essential for enhancing workplace efforts moving forward, he wrote.
Kataja also agreed with Lindholm that workplace responsibility can become unclear in environments with multiple stakeholders.
– At the construction site, we've already limited the number of subcontractor layers to create clarity and better control, wrote Kataja.
– This is actually the result of a framework we developed together with Johan Lindholm, in his previous role as chairman of Byggnads.