Vilnius  - Trade unionists representing workers in one of Lithuania's largest retail chains protested outside the German Embassy in Vilnius Thursday, calling on parent company REWE Group to intervene on their behalf.

About 30 employees of the IKI supermarket chain, which is partly owned by the German retailing giant REWE, presented a petition to the embassy listing numerous grievances, including poor working conditions, compulsory pay cuts and "union-busting" actions by

managers.

"We are handing over a petition to the German ambassador in order to show him the conditions we work under. We think some facts will really surprise German society," said trade union member Galina Proskurina.

Valdas Lopeta, a spokesman for the retailer, denied the charges and said that one union member had been dismissed for "serious violation of labour discipline."

Union representative Tomas Tomilinas told the German Press Agency dpa: "The company claims the economic crisis justifies firing workers, cutting salaries and extending working hours."

"People are forced to leave their jobs without any compensation and, the top management of the company prevents trade unions protecting the rights of its members," he said.

"We hope that the German authorities will inform the main trade unions in Germany working with REWE, and some standards of social dialogue from Germany may be integrated into Lithuania," he added.

Lopeta, the retailer's spokesman, said: "We have monthly meetings (with the union) and are always discussing questions they have, but if their members are penalized for serious work disciplinary cases, every time the union uses a threatening tone."

"Our position is that membership in a trade union doesn't give special privileges," he said.

In 2007, REWE Group in partnership with Colruyt, Conand, Coop and E. Leclerc acquired a majority share of 80 per cent in the Lithuania-based IKI Group. IKI operates more than 250 stores in Lithuania and Latvia and is the the third-largest supermarket chain in the Baltic states.(dpa)