News

On 26 June in Athens, Greece, UNI and OTE, the Greek Telecoms, Mobile and Internet Company, signed a global agreement to respect union rights. UNI and Greek affiliate the OME-OTE, which represents over 90% of the workforce, worked together to achieve this result. OME-OTE President, Panagiotis Kotronis co-signatory of the agreement, stated that the principles of union recognition, the right to organise, collective bargaining and social responsibility were taken for granted in Greece and expected these principles to be respected wherever the OTE company was open for business. OTE CEO Nikos Manasis stated that at the previous days OTE AGM he had committed the company to new principles of corporate governance where one key pillar was social partnership. Since the partial privatisation of OTE, the company has expanded into the Balkan region with a presence in several countries. Christos Economou of OME-OTE commented that the accord will mean a structured dialogue between the company and all unions concerned. This agreement is a first in Greece and UNI looks forward to working with affiliates to develop this partnership. The agreement is based on the ILO’s core labour standards and includes the right to organise, employment, wages, health and safety, and working hours. Several paragraphs concern the implementation of the agreement including the creation of a monitoring group.



P. J. Jennings UNI General Secretary and Luis Neves Head of UNI Telecoms were co-signatories.



On 25 June OME-OTE concluded a two-year collective agreement with OTE after a hectic period of negotiations. In recent months UNI has entered global agreements with Carrefour and Telefonica.

OTE CEO Nikos Manasis and UNI General Secretary Philip Jennings signing the Global Agreement

George Skarpelis, Vice-President OTE; Panagiotis Kotronis, OME-OTE President; Nikos Manasis, OTE CEO; Philip Jennings UNI General Secretary; and Luis Neves, UNI Telecom