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10 July, 2008
UNI-Europa, the European section of the Global Union Federation UNI, signed an agreement in May 2008 with Euriciett, Europe’s only association of temporary work agencies. UNI-Europa and Eurociett agreed on a joint declaration related to the draft EU Directive on Agency Work, while UNI also made improvements in a renewed Global Framework Agreement with ISS, a Danish-based company that provides property services worldwide.
UNI-Europa’s accord with the umbrella association of temp work agencies “recognises the principle of equal treatment from day 1 for temporary agency workers,” the same language as contained in the draft EU Directive.
The text of the document improves on the draft Directive by providing two definitions for the comparability of workers, “extending the comparison of the working and employment conditions to those workers doing the same or similar job in the user company.”
The agreement also enjoins both parties to a commitment that temporary agency workers should not replace workers who are on strike.
These issues are viewed as sensitive within the industry, as they are important for its public image. Larger agencies like Adecco, Manpower, Randstad, and Vedior are concerned that smaller and mid-size agencies will not follow the rules.
Most agency workers do not work for companies with which UNI is dealing. UNI therefore hopes to first reach an agreement with employers on workers’ whose interests are directly represented by UNI. After this is signed, possibly in September 2008, it is hoped to extend this to all temporary agency workers, perhaps early next year.
UNI-Europa Gen. Sec. Bernadette Ségol
UNI-Europa General Secretary Bernadette Ségol said, “It is now urgent that the EU institutions finally agree on a Directive on (temporary agency work) to protect the interest of workers.” UNI-Europa has lobbied the European Commission for the past ten years for a Directive on agency work.
The renewal agreement between UNI and ISS, which employs 440,000 workers
worldwide, was signed in June and gives staff the right to join unions and to bargain collectively.