15 March, 2011Metal and energy workers sign Global Framework Agreement with Norsk Hydro ASA, a leading global supplier of aluminium products and energy solutions.
NORWAY: On March 15, the International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF), International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Union (ICEM) and their Norwegian affiliates Fellesforbundet and IndustriEnergi signed a Global Framework Agreement (GFA in ICEM's term; International Framework Agreement (IFA) in IMF's term) with Norsk Hydro ASA in Oslo.
The agreement covers provisions on freedom of association and collective bargaining rights, discrimination, forced labour, child labour, health and safety, wages, working hours, employment conditions, skills training, HIV/AIDS, and environmental conditions, referencing the standards as established by the core labour conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Norsk Hydro ASA was established more than 100 years ago and today it is a leading global supplier of aluminium products and energy solutions. The Hydro companies have a total of 23,000 workers in more than 40 countries worldwide. The production facilities are mainly located in Europe, North America, Australia and Qatar.
In addition to the agreement, the parties agreed to establish a working group on the U.S. legislation and U.S. practices related to freedom of association and collective bargaining rights. The conclusions of this group's work will provide a basis for the revision of the GFA in 2012.
The parties also committed to work together to build an open channel of network which ensures implementation of the GFA in all Hydro's workplaces.
A copy of the agreement in English is available on the IMF and ICEM website.
Also see:
http://www.fellesforbundet.no/Nyhetsarkiv/Publisert-i-2011/Historisk-global-konsernavtale-i-Hydro/