Global Focus on Collective Bargaining Coverage: Global Agreements Recognize Multinationals’ Reach

A "global framework agreement" negotiated by the Union Network International (UNI) with France Telecom in December 2006 provides for organizing neutrality at all of the company's subsidiaries, which could spur unionization in Africa at the company's wireless subsidiary, Orange.

Excited by the possibilities, telecommunications unions from four Central and West African countries met late last year in Douala, Cameroon, to explore organizing strategies and determine how the Global Agreement might help.

"We also used this event to assist the Cameroon affiliates to run an organizing drive at an Orange call center," said Neil Anderson, executive director of UNI Telecom, a global union with which CWA is affiliated.

UNI has negotiated 15 global framework agreements in various industries including pacts with Portugal Telecom and Telefonica (Spain) in the Telecom sector. All incorporate four main points:

• To observe international standards for the recognition of the right to join a trade union, to bargain collectively and to non-discrimination in employment;
• To never use child labor or forced labor;
• To observe decent working conditions; and
• To adhere to good environmental standards.

In its agreement with UNI, France Telecom Group specifically "recognizes its staff's right to freedom of association, of representation and union membership" in compliance with International Labor Organization (ILO) principles.

"Employees are free to join or not join a staff or union organization of their choice," it states. Where there is no union, "the France Telecom Group shall adopt a neutral position designed neither to assist nor prevent the establishment of the trade union." The key phrase to "neither assist nor prevent" comes directly from CWA's 1986 agreement with AT&T which is still the foundation of CWA's efforts and the core concept for real bargaining rights anywhere in the world.

The agreement came about after a network of unions, the UNI France Telecom Global Union Alliance, held several "days of action" and after individual unions within the Alliance applied additional pressure on management to sign.