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11 August, 2005ICEM News release No. 4/2002
Leading nonwoven and allied products multinational Freudenberg has renewed its global agreement with the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM).
First signed in July 2000, the agreement covers trade union rights, workplace equality, protection of health, safety and the environment and a ban on child labour and forced labour. It has now been prolonged, without amendment, up to 31 December 2002.
photo: Fritz Kopetzky
The agreement with the ICEM encompasses Freudenberg's long-standing business principles, notably "the social commitment that the Freudenberg Group has towards all its employees." It specifically recognises that full cooperation and consultation with workers and their unions are the best way of furthering the interests of the company and its shareholders.
All sites of German-headquartered Freudenberg and its subsidiaries worldwide are covered by the agreement. It was negotiated in cooperation with the ICEM-affiliated German mining, chemical and energy workers' union IG BCE, which is a co-signatory.
Freudenberg employs more than 30,000 people in over 40 countries. It processes elastomers and plastics to obtain a broad product range, including seals, moulded plastic components, vibration control products, nonwovens for a variety of applications, special lubricants, flexible printed circuit boards and household products, floor coverings and footwear. In 2000, its sales reached €4154m (about US$3700m).
Union rights, workplace equality, health, safety and environment are all part of the agreement, as is a ban on child labour and forced labour.
(photo: Fritz Kopetzky)
The emphasis in the global agreement is strongly on trade union rights and other human rights. Specifically cited as touchstones are the relevant Conventions of the UN's International Labour Organisation (ILO). Through the agreement with the ICEM, Freudenberg undertakes to respect, as a minimum, Conventions 87 and 98 on freedom of association and collective bargaining; Convention 135 on non-discrimination against union reps; Conventions 100 and 111 on equal opportunities and treatment; Conventions 29 and 105 on forced labour; and Convention 138 on child labour.
Significantly, the agreement provides for ICEM monitoring and for annual meetings between Freudenberg's global management and the ICEM. Both sides commit themselves "to contact each other directly and immediately in case any conflicts or violations of the agreement arise, in order to seek a common solution."
This is the crucial difference between a global agreement and the internal codes of conduct adopted by many multinationals. The Freudenberg agreement is fully verifiable by the ICEM.
The agreement clearly acknowledges "the right of the employees in the Freudenberg Group to freely join trade unions of their choice, to elect workers' representatives and represent their interests in negotiations concerning collective bargaining agreements." It is "part of the cooperation and confidence" between Freudenberg and its workers that "wherever the employees wish to organise themselves in trade unions, and trade unions apply for recognition, ways are sought to develop good labour relations in joint dialogue." This "rules out any kind of unequal treatment, discrimination or sanctions against trade union organisation."
Freudenberg also commits itself to "sustainable protection of the environment and natural resources" and to ensuring the safety of the workplace and of its products.
It further "condemns involvement in unethical or illegal business" and undertakes not to produce "weapons or any kind of war materials similar to weapons."
"Confidence and cooperation between management, employees and their representatives, innovation and flexibility in work organisation are the basis for the employees' future success and that of the Freudenberg Group," the agreement says. Every effort will be made to achieve "a consensus about the introduction of flexible, efficient and customer-oriented forms of work organisation", while taking account of "the needs of the employees."
"The renewal and extension of this agreement show that it is working both for the company and for the unions," commented ICEM General Secretary Fred Higgs. "Over the coming year, both the company and ourselves are committed to improving communication for both management and workers, to ensure that there is full understanding of the agreement and of its commitments and objectives. We believe that it is in the best interests of all multinationals in our sectors to negotiate such agreements with the ICEM."