News

In the picture, Tony Scaringy, Quebecor Finance Manager, Regional Office; Juan José Hernández, Human Resources Manager in Peru; Carlos Alvarado, Finance Manager, Peru; Marino Llantas, Jesús Chunga, Jack Cleonares and Rubén Ramírez, Quebecor Peru Union, and Juan Palma, CONAGRA, Chile.



“None of this would have been possible if the Peruvian union hadn’t assumed ownership of Agreement using it to the benefit of the workers it represents,” said Adriana Rosenzvaig. “It is very encouraging to see that the Agreement is not only a declaration of good will among the parties, but rather a specific tool to build effective and legitimate social dialogue.” The process of collective bargaining carried out at the Quebecor plant in Peru also served to consolidate the networks among the workers of the plants in Chile and Peru, and advance in the building of legitimate dialogue with the company.



The discussions, which lasted for more than eight weeks, culminated on August 13 with an agreement in which the most relevant result has been the establishment of a bi-partite Works Council which will deal with, among others, the daily problems that could affect the employees and will be a tool to improve the prevailing occupational health and safety conditions. This Council will discuss the balances and other economic information the company will provide and will contribute to the creation of ongoing dialogue between the union and Quebecor.



Juan Palma, President of the Chilean Quebecor union (affiliated to CONAGRA), has had an active part in these negotiations. The union members that participated in these received the support of UNI Graphical Americas through training courses and exchange of experiences with other unions. “It was a very positive experience: this negotiation was done at the national level, but the Peruvian and Chilean workers were clearly aware of the support UNI Graphical has been giving us throughout the entire process,” said Juan Palma, very satisfied by the signing of the agreement. The CBA Negotiating Team sent the following message to Marvin Largaespada, Director in the Regional Office in Panama:



“We write this letter to thank you for the total and great support from UNI for the collective bargaining process. Juan Palma showed his full appreciation, respect and confidence in our union; he believed in a process of discussions on the collective bargaining agreement, a very difficult and exhausting one; his experience and his character enabled our being able to manage difficult situations. We would like to highlight that the simple fact of coming from so far and leaving his family week after week shows how Palma values and identifies with union work….To Juan Palma, Marvin, Adriana and Duncan, the negotiators thank you for all the support in this new stage of the Sindicato de Quebecor Perú (Quebecor Peru’s union) based on continuous dialogue seeking agreement between the company and the union, seeking what is best for both organizations.”



Throughout this process the Global Agreement signed by UNI G and Quebecor constituted an invaluable tool. The relations we have today with the company enabled the participation of Juan Palma as an expert in the process of collective bargaining which had moments of tension and difficulties. The leaders of the Peruvian union travelled to Chile to meet with their peers in this country and analyze different facets of the process of negotiation.



For more information about the Collective Bargaining Agreement signed by the Quebecor plant in Peru, please contact: Marvin.Largaespada@uniglobalunion.org