The Estonian Confederation of Trade Unions deplores the state's decision to appoint Erik Laidvee, who has been convicted in the Harju County Court of unlawful treatment of a workers' representative, as chairman of the board of Eesti Raudtee.

"The union believes that a public company should not be headed by a person who has a record of illegal treatment of workers and who has violated, in word and deed, workers' right to organise," Peterson commented.

The trade union leader asserts that workers' right to organise is protected by both the Constitution and the Penal Code, and that infringements of it are tantamount to tax fraud or whatever. The Confederation of Estonian Trade Unions supports the position of the Estonian Seamen's Independent Trade Union on this issue.