Unions want Nokia to sign a Global Framework Agreement
[09.04.2008] The unions presented their proposal on Tuesday in Helsinki at a press
conference where a research report was published on working conditions in
the Nokia plant in Mexico. The unions point out that since 2002 they have with meagre results
recommended to Nokia to start negotiations with the International
Metalworkers’ Federation IMF on setting up a Framework Agreement.
The unions think that the scale and the international significance of
Nokia operations require that this agreement finally be signed. Not a single Finnish company has yet signed a Framework Agreement
whereas e.g. five Swedish big companies have already done so. In all, 35
European multinational companies have negotiated a Framework
Agreement. FA would improve Nokia’s image The trade unions of the Technologies Industry think that Nokia should
make the first move among the Finnish global companies. The Framework
Agreement would have a strong positive impact on the international image
of Nokia, the trade unions judge. Instead of a Framework Agreement Nokia at present applies its own
international ethical code of conduct. The Framework Agreement would be a quantum leap compared with the
ethical code of conduct. The problem of ethical codes is that they have
been unilaterally established by the employers and they are hardly binding
or monitored. Mere ethical principles will not work unless the personnel
are included in the setting up and follow up of them. In setting up and
monitoring a Framework Agreement trade unions are always included, the
unions remind. Based on the research work done on the Nokia plant in Mexico the unions
fear that the company employees in low wage countries are not aware of
regulations and that they have no real chance to express their opinion on
how these regulations are followed. In the newly published study the trade unions as well as the Solidarity
Centre of Finnish Trade Unions SASK had asked a Mexican working life
research institute to examine how Nokia’s own ethical principles
were implemented in its cell phone plant in Reyona, Mexico, and what kind
of working conditions the Finnish company offers in a country long known
as a low wage labour provider. Further information:
Agreement would secure the basic rights of Nokia’s employees world-wide.
The key trade unions of the Technologies Industry, the Metalworkers’
Union, the Union of Salaried Employees and the Union of Professional
engineers state that Nokia should as the first Finnish company sign an
International Framework Agreement with the trade unions. The agreement
would secure the basic rights of Nokia’s employees world-wide. It
would also secure the trade union rights of the Nokia personnel.
- Metalworkers’ Union / Jari Hakkarainen, tel. +35840 829 4371
- Union of Salaried Employees / Petteri Ojanen, tel. +358500 607 713
- Union of Professional Engineers / Matti Koskinen, tel. +358201 801
846
Viimeksi muokattu: 09.04.2008
[Kerro kaverille]
