EMF Conference European Works Councils within the ICT Sector

1. International Framework Agreements and the ICT Industry Robert Steiert International Metalworkers’ Federation EMF Conference European Works Councils within the ICT Sector Brussels, 14th - 16th December 2005 This activity is held in co-operation with Uni-Europa and with the financial supportof the European Union

2. International Framework Agreements – IFA are not a new invention of the Global Union Federations (GUF) They go back into the 70th of the last century when „codes of conduct“ for multinational companies were demanded But as now more and more TNCs decided company-own „codes of conduct“ the GUFs agreed to change the name for agreements between the TNCs and the GUFs to International Framework Agreements IFAs are not single-sided decisions of company managements - they are binding agreements with Global Union Federations

3. The IMF model code: a global instrument  The IMF model code is based on the ICFTU text  The same model is also used by other Global Union Federations - GUF (formerly ITS)  The IMF model code was adopted by the IMF Executive Committee in 1998  The action programs decided in San Francisco and Sydney give the mandate to conclude Framework Agreements

4. Content of a an International Framework Agreement (IFA) • Core Labour Standards of the ILO • Further regulations with regard to Industrial Relations, i.e. neutrality in union organising campaigns • Supplier clause • Minimum standards for working conditions, i.e. wages and salaries / working time / working conditions at workplace • Reporting resp. surveillance procedures (Monitoring)

5. Compulsory: Core Labour Standards Freedom of Association (ILO-Conventions 87, 135 and Recommendation No 143) Freedom of Collective Bargaining (ILO-Convention 98) Prohibition of Child Work (ILO 138) Prohibition of Forced Labour (ILO 29 und 105) Equal Rights (ILO 100 und 111) Supplier Clause Reporting / Monitoring

6. Items which can be contained: • positive attitude vis-à-vis trade unions and trade union • organising campaigns • obligation not to use replacements in case of strike • mimimum wages and salaries on the basis of state • regulations or average wages of the industry • working time / health and safety • human working conditions: safe and hygienic • environment

7. By whom should an IFA be negotiated: • - internationally composed negotiating team • or • negotiating team with a mandate of an international body • (i.e. World Company Council / World Works‘ Council etc.) • Possibility of comments and approval by affected trade unions and plant / company based institutions for representing workers‘ interests

8. Where such Framework Agreements have been signed? • in all industries 43 IFAs have been signed covering about 3,8 • million workers directly • the IMF holds 14, UNI 5 of these IFAs • the majority of IMF-IFAs are signed with auto companies and • auto-suppliers • in ICT there are only 2 telecommunication companies • no IC company was willing to follow this way • most of the IFAs signed with the IMF are with German • companies

9. Company Number Employees Country Branch / Sector Global Union Federation Year Indesit (Merloni) 20,000 Italy Household appliances IMF 2002 Volkswagen 325,000 Germany Auto Industry IMF 2002 DaimlerChrysler 372,500 Germany Auto Industry IMF 2002 Leoni 29,900 Germany Electronics / Automotive IMF 2003 GEA 14,000 Germany Engineering Industry IMF 2003 SKF 39,000 Sweden Ball Bearing IMF 2003 Rheinmetall 25,950 Germany Defence/Automotive/Electronics IMF 2003 Bosch 225,900 Germany Automotive / Electronis IMF 2004 Prym 4,000 Germany Metal Industry IMF 2004 Renault 130,700 France Auto Industry IMF 2004 BMW 106,000 Germany Auto Industry IMF 2005 EADS 110,000 Netherlands Aerospace IMF 2005 Gebrüder Röchling 8,000 Germany Auto supply IMF 2005 Arcelor 95,000 Luxemburg Steel Industry IMF 2005 Carrefour 383,000 France Retail Industry UNI 2001 OTE Telecom 18,500 Greece Telecommunication UNI 2001 Telefonica 161,500 Spain Telecommunication UNI 2001 ISS 280,000 Danmark Building Cleaning & Maintenance UNI 2003 H&M – Hennes & Mauritz 40,000 Sweden Retail UNI 2004 International Framework Agreements IMF / UNI

10. The congress of the IMF 2001 in Sydney confirmed by the 2005 congress in Vienna created the mandate, to make „Framework Agreements“ a key point for the IMF activities EWCs play a vital role in this strategy as in most cases within the IMF they paved the way to open negotiations witht these companies ICT companies become more and more important but still very often have the reputation of not being very union-friendly and often locating manufacturing in EPZs and countries with restrictive labour laws Together we therefore should discuss and start initiatives to confront companies in the ICT sector with the demand for opening negotiations on IFAs