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17 December, 2008
ICEM leaders and senior managers of French-based chemicals multinational Rhodia travelled to Brazil from 2-5 December for a second round of monitoring the Global Framework Agreement. This kind of joint mission was first realised last year in China with a view toward making sure the agreement is properly implemented at specific workplaces.
ICEM General Secretary Manfred Warda, ICEM Latin America/Caribbean Vice-President Sérgio Novais, and Chemicals and Rubber Officer Kemal Özkan represented the ICEM, while Rhodia’s Exeuctive Vice-President Bernard Chambonö, Sustainable Development Director Jacques Kheliff, and Communications Vice President Lucia Dumas participated, as did the Brazilian team of Rhodia, headed by Latin American President Marcos De Marchi.
The social partners discussed the global agreement in Brazil in general, and specifically, at the regional headquarters in São Paulo. The delegation visited plants in Paulinia, Santo André, and Cubatao, and met with local trade union leaders at those worksites.
The ICEM team was informed about products, technology, safety, health, and environmental matters, and received information on salaries, social benefits, staffing, and local community relations in the plant visits.
In terms of trade union representation, all Rhodia workplaces are organised by six different unions, each with collective agreements. The ICEM proposed a network among these different unions so coordination can occur and a common dialogue can happen at the national level.
“I am pleased by the positive results of our agreement with Rhodia,” commented Warda. “The successful visit to Brazil, coordinated effectively by management, has shown us that a GFA can be a positive tool in industrial relations at the global level.
“It also secures an understanding on how local and national level social dialogue can proceed in a cooperative manner,” Warda added. The Global Framework Agreement with Rhodia was renewed in March 2008, and now contains succinct language related to union recruitment and company neutrality.