15 August, 2024Workers at Forte, part of Swedish group Assa Abloy, are calling for respect for freedom of association, collective bargaining and gender pay equity. Workers are also demanding a wage increase, and say that the company refuses to negotiate.
In 2023, Assa Abloy bought the Peruvian padlock and lock manufacturer Forte. Since then, the Grupo Forte workers' union (part of IndustriALL affiliate Fetrimap) has reported difficulties in getting the company to respect the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining.
According to the union, the company agreed to a direct settlement phase in July, but did not grant all members of the negotiating committee the necessary minimum conditions to participate in the meetings. As a result, the collective bargaining table for 2024-2025 could not be set up.
The union also says that the employer removed wage increases from two workers after they joined the union. In addition, they claim that the company discriminates between its employees in terms of wages: a group of female workers are paid less than their male colleagues, even though they have the same position and tasks
The union is demanding:
- Respect for the right to freedom of association
- Respect for the right to collective bargaining
- A solution to their demands
FETRIMAP's deputy general secretary Julián Alfaro explains:
“The company does not want to negotiate and is violating the right to freedom of association. We have already filed two complaints with the National Superintendence of Labour Inspection (SUNAFIL) and have appealed to the inspection intelligence department, specializing in freedom of association cases.“
IndustriALL deputy regional secretary Cristian Alejandro Valerio says:
“We urge the Assa Abloy group's Forte company to stop its anti-union behaviour and to enter into negotiations with the union for a genuine social dialogue, and to respond to the workers’ concerns.”