News

28 March, Abidjan – UNI ICTS held a meeting with the management of Orange in Ivory Coast where the commitment to the global agreement signed in 2006 was strengthened. At the meeting Orange agreed to start negotiations to strengthen the global agreement with UNI in the area of health which will complement and build on the 2006 agreement and provide a common set of standards for all Group employees outside of France, with a particular focus on HIV Aids.

Head of UNI ICTS, Alan Tate said, “We are delighted to build on our 2006 Global Agreement with Orange. UNI and Orange will continue to ensure workers rights and freedom of association, and the strong engagement from Orange on the health aspect of workers was a historic and positive step in the right direction.”

Orange agreed to organise two meetings a year with UNI Global Union which it recognises as the only legitimate partner to engage in global social dialogue and international negotiations.

Additionally, the Orange management approved the establishment of negotiating bodies in each of the countries it operates in to deal with the issue of restructuring. Furthermore, they recognised the need for the joint committees to provide information, discuss various challenges and the impact of business transformation in respect of the agreement on fundamental rights.

UNI and Orange mutually undertook to redouble their efforts to publicise the agreement on fundamental rights and to apply it in all the countries in which Orange operates.

UNI ICTS look forward to a constructive international relationship and are pleased to reconfirm Orange’s commitment to the Global Agreement. UNI ICTS hopes that the Global Alliance with Orange can encourage a further development of of human and labour rights, and to lead on improving industry standards regarding pay, benefits, working conditions and health and safety on the job.

At a meeting of the UNI Orange Trade Union Alliance the previous day, the delegates elected a new President, William Coker, of the Ivory Coast.