making-decisions.gif (5262 bytes) SESSION FIVE: CASE STUDY 3

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Course Handout for Session Five

Case-study 3: WINNING TRANSNATIONAL AGREEMENTS

Some international trade union organisations are trying to negotiate international agreements with TNCs which apply to their workplaces all over the world. These agreements are not about collective bargaining issues such as wages and conditions. Rather they focus on issues of trade union rights, skills training, and equality in the workplace.

The Accor International Hotel group signed such an agreement on trade union rights with the IUF. Accor operates in many countries in Asia-Pacific including Australia, Philippines and Thailand. How can the international agreement with Accor be used as an organising tool by unions in the region? 
The agreement says that Accor:
  • will respect ILO conventions relating to

1) the right of workers to affiliate to the union of their choice;

2) the protection of employees against all acts of discrimination that violate freedom of association;

3) the protection of employees against any measures that could hard them as a result of them being union representatives;
So the Accor group undertakes not to oppose efforts to unionize its employees.
  • Encourages the management of subsidiaries to allow unions representatives to carry out their mandates and to have access to the same opportunities for training, pay increases and advancement as other employees.
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