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12 August, 2005ICEM News release No. 86/98
The following is a joint press statement by the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM) and the World Chlorine Council (WCC):
UNIONS, CHLORINE PRODUCERS COMMIT TO IMPROVED LABOR RELATIONS AND SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
MONTREAL, Quebec, Oct. 20-- A ground-breaking labor-management agreement was signed here today between global chlorine chemical manufacturers and global trade unions. The agreement commits unions and companies to a new era in industrial relations and the continuing development of environmentally sustainable practices in the chlorine and chlorine-related industries.
The unions present are affiliated globally with the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM). The companies are members of regional and national associations affiliated with the World Chlorine Council (WCC).
Companies signing the agreement today were: Elf Atochem Chlorine, Vinyl and Solvents; Solvay Chemicals Sector SBU Chlor Chemicals; CXY Chemicals Canada; Dow Corning Corporation; Olin Corporation; Pioneer Companies Inc.; The Geon Company; Georgia Gulf; and ICI Halocarbons.
Signing for the union side was the ICEM. Unions affiliated to the ICEM present at the signing were United Steelworkers of America; Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada; International Chemical Workers' Union Council of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (North America); Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (USA); International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers (North America); International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine and Furniture Workers (North America); Federation des Travailleurs et Travailleuses de Papier et de la Foret (Quebec); Industriegewerkschaft Bergbau Chemie Energie (Germany); FNV Bondgenoten (Netherlands); Industrifacket (Sweden); Specialarbejderforbundet i Danmark; Japanese Federation of Chemical Workers' Unions (Kagaku Soren); Kagaku League 21 (Japan); and Zensen (Japan).
The parties in this unprecedented agreement will "recognize the role and legitimacy of trade unions in the workplace", and they "pledge to act in good faith to create a positive and enduring labor-management relationship which recognizes and respects the right of employees to organize and to bargain collectively." Signatory companies will not urge employees to oppose unionization in their operations worldwide. The process to implement this agreement will take effect immediately.
Other points in the agreement include a commitment by both the companies and the unions to "environmentally sustainable production" developed "in conjunction with the promotion of long-term employment opportunities." Both labor and management "share an interest in working with the scientific, governmental, environmental and other communities to ensure that technological, economic, environmental and social concerns are considered and balanced."
To that end, the companies and the unions reiterated their continued support for the tripartite discussions begun last year with public interest groups concerned about chlorine-based chemistry. The Montreal agreement anticipates a continuing process of consultation between trade unions and chlorine producers with various interest groups, including the environmental movement.
"This agreement calls a truce to anti-labor activity in a substantial segment of the global chlorine industry," said Vic Thorpe. He is General Secretary of the ICEM, which spearheaded the talks with the chlorine producers. "We congratulate the companies signing the accord for their progressive vision of industrial relations. Implementation of the agreement will create the space and the atmosphere of respect necessary for organized labor to join with employers and public interest groups in a broad debate on the long-term future of this important sector."
"This partnership with ICEM signifies our continuing commitment to a sustainable future for chlorine chemistry, its employees, its plant communities and the billions of people who benefit from our products," said Kip Howlett of the WCC. "We've been talking about a joint commitment to the chemical industry's Responsible Care programs from the shop floor to the global level. The prospect for progress based on the Joint Labor-Management Statement is exciting and historic."
The agreement signed today further notes that labor and management, to better prepare for the future, "must commit to job training for all workers to advance the goal of promoting long-term employment and promoting sustainability through the development of globally-recognized environmental, health and safety standards."
The Statement also notes that both sides recognize that technology, global markets and market demand will play significant roles in determining employment and investment in chlorine chemistry.
Both parties also committed to support the development of new technologies and the modification of existing technologies "if required by sound scientific research and consistent with the features of Responsible Care and best health, safety and environmental practices."
The unions and the companies explored possible areas of cooperative action on the implementation of Responsible Care. The parties agreed to establish a joint committee to develop methods for fuller employee involvement as well as methods to advance the effectiveness of the program.
The ICEM unites more than 20 million workers in the chemical and allied sectors worldwide. The WCC represents chlorine chemistry manufacturers across the globe.
UNIONS, CHLORINE PRODUCERS COMMIT TO IMPROVED LABOR RELATIONS AND SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
MONTREAL, Quebec, Oct. 20-- A ground-breaking labor-management agreement was signed here today between global chlorine chemical manufacturers and global trade unions. The agreement commits unions and companies to a new era in industrial relations and the continuing development of environmentally sustainable practices in the chlorine and chlorine-related industries.
The unions present are affiliated globally with the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM). The companies are members of regional and national associations affiliated with the World Chlorine Council (WCC).
Companies signing the agreement today were: Elf Atochem Chlorine, Vinyl and Solvents; Solvay Chemicals Sector SBU Chlor Chemicals; CXY Chemicals Canada; Dow Corning Corporation; Olin Corporation; Pioneer Companies Inc.; The Geon Company; Georgia Gulf; and ICI Halocarbons.
Signing for the union side was the ICEM. Unions affiliated to the ICEM present at the signing were United Steelworkers of America; Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada; International Chemical Workers' Union Council of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (North America); Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (USA); International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers (North America); International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine and Furniture Workers (North America); Federation des Travailleurs et Travailleuses de Papier et de la Foret (Quebec); Industriegewerkschaft Bergbau Chemie Energie (Germany); FNV Bondgenoten (Netherlands); Industrifacket (Sweden); Specialarbejderforbundet i Danmark; Japanese Federation of Chemical Workers' Unions (Kagaku Soren); Kagaku League 21 (Japan); and Zensen (Japan).
The parties in this unprecedented agreement will "recognize the role and legitimacy of trade unions in the workplace", and they "pledge to act in good faith to create a positive and enduring labor-management relationship which recognizes and respects the right of employees to organize and to bargain collectively." Signatory companies will not urge employees to oppose unionization in their operations worldwide. The process to implement this agreement will take effect immediately.
Other points in the agreement include a commitment by both the companies and the unions to "environmentally sustainable production" developed "in conjunction with the promotion of long-term employment opportunities." Both labor and management "share an interest in working with the scientific, governmental, environmental and other communities to ensure that technological, economic, environmental and social concerns are considered and balanced."
To that end, the companies and the unions reiterated their continued support for the tripartite discussions begun last year with public interest groups concerned about chlorine-based chemistry. The Montreal agreement anticipates a continuing process of consultation between trade unions and chlorine producers with various interest groups, including the environmental movement.
"This agreement calls a truce to anti-labor activity in a substantial segment of the global chlorine industry," said Vic Thorpe. He is General Secretary of the ICEM, which spearheaded the talks with the chlorine producers. "We congratulate the companies signing the accord for their progressive vision of industrial relations. Implementation of the agreement will create the space and the atmosphere of respect necessary for organized labor to join with employers and public interest groups in a broad debate on the long-term future of this important sector."
"This partnership with ICEM signifies our continuing commitment to a sustainable future for chlorine chemistry, its employees, its plant communities and the billions of people who benefit from our products," said Kip Howlett of the WCC. "We've been talking about a joint commitment to the chemical industry's Responsible Care programs from the shop floor to the global level. The prospect for progress based on the Joint Labor-Management Statement is exciting and historic."
The agreement signed today further notes that labor and management, to better prepare for the future, "must commit to job training for all workers to advance the goal of promoting long-term employment and promoting sustainability through the development of globally-recognized environmental, health and safety standards."
The Statement also notes that both sides recognize that technology, global markets and market demand will play significant roles in determining employment and investment in chlorine chemistry.
Both parties also committed to support the development of new technologies and the modification of existing technologies "if required by sound scientific research and consistent with the features of Responsible Care and best health, safety and environmental practices."
The unions and the companies explored possible areas of cooperative action on the implementation of Responsible Care. The parties agreed to establish a joint committee to develop methods for fuller employee involvement as well as methods to advance the effectiveness of the program.
The ICEM unites more than 20 million workers in the chemical and allied sectors worldwide. The WCC represents chlorine chemistry manufacturers across the globe.