Global Agreements: Exporting Global Labour Standards Through Multinationals

By Noel Howell

Telefónica was the very first global framework agreement signed by UNI, way back in 2000. Now there are more than 12 agreements involving UNI and about 50 with all the global unions.

The aim is to boost substantially that total to ensure global labour standards are exported through the multinational companies that increasingly dominate the global economy.

"Core labour standards are agreed by unions, employers and governments at the International Labour Organisation in Geneva," says UNI General Secretary Philip Jennings. "But, far too often, they are forgotten once delegates get back home."

Conventions are not ratified, export processing zones become no-go areas for labour standards and, without tough sanctions like in trade, companies can conveniently forget them.

Global agreements ensure that labour standards are observed wherever that global company operates. "We are exporting labour standards through responsible global corporations," said Philip Jennings.

"Now we want to step up the number of these agreements and build on the agreements already signed to ensure unions can organise and represent workers wherever they are." Global agreements in UNI's area so far cover:

Carrefour: (commerce - 450,000 employees in over 30 countries)

Falck: (rescue and ambulance - in a growing number of European countries)

H&M: (commerce - world's largest fashion retailer)

ISS: (contract cleaning and facilities management - 300,000 employees in Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific)

Metro: (commerce - 250,000 employees)

National Australia Group: (multinational bank - agreement to be signed in Melbourne in December)

OTE: (Greek-based telecom operator)

Portugal Telecom: (telecom - in Europe, Africa, Macau and Latin

America)

Securitas: (security - 211,000 employees in 30 countries)

Nampak: (packaging - South African based)

Euradius: (graphical - Dutch-based)

Telefónica: (telecom - a powerful player in Latin America and interests

in Europe and the USA)

Universal Postal Union: UN agency

UNI also has regional agreements with Barclays Bank in Africa, First Caribbean and HSBC.