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2 June, 2008
After 14 long months of struggle and dispute with American consumer products company Procter & Gamble, 350 workers represented ably by Sindicato de Trabajadores de Procter & Gamble Industrial Peru (SINTRA P&G) have won their first collective agreement through arbitration.
In the agreement, the union secured fundamental workers’ rights principles guaranteed under ILO standards, particularly the right of freedom of association and the right to bargain collectively. In making the announcement, the Peruvian union thanked the ICEM and other organisations for assistance and solidarity since the new union began organising at the chemicals, soaps, and detergents factory in San Isidro, near Lima, in March 2007.
The contract became viable through arbitration with the Ministry of Labour and Employment Promotion. Procter & Gamble Peru management had resisted going to arbitration throughout, despite the fact that it had engaged in previous such sessions with a predecessor union.
SINTRA P&G has now pledged to take up the cause of 39 trade unionists at the factory who had been fired for asserting their right to form a union. SINTRA P&G stated that despite the resistance from management to form a union, “It is now time to turn the page and encourage all to move forward on the right path” of active trade unionism, referring to organising and collective bargaining.
The union’s intention now is work toward an improved second collective agreement, and SINTRA P&G has opened its doors to all workers who seek healthy work lives. Procter & Gamble Peru also utilizes 400 indirect workers in its production and distributions operations.
The ICEM welcomes the recent success of its future Peruvian affiliate!