News

UNI Global Union and the UNI Orange Alliance have signed a ground breaking new Agreement with Orange on health and safety. The Agreement, signed by UNI General Secretary Philip Jennings, William Coker, President of the Alliance and the French unions, CFDT and FO, will become part of the Global Agreement signed between UNI and Orange (France Telecom) in 2006.

The Worldwide Agreement on Health and Safety is the first of its kind for UNI and contains important advances for all Orange employees, particularly in Africa. It is the result of extensive consultations with UNI affiliated unions and was negotiated by a UNI Alliance committee chaired by William Ange Coker, President of the UNI Orange Alliance and representatives from UNI and affiliates from France (CGT, CFDT and FO) and Poland (NSZZ).

Among the issues addressed by the Agreement are, access to health care and social protection,  health monitoring, safety and well-being in the workplace, public health and pandemic prevention campaigns, e-health services and participation in public health campaigns. Over the next three years there is a commitment to develop core common health and safety standards and the provision of medical insurance and coverage against major health risks to employees and their families.

One innovative aspect of the Agreement is the establishment of local health and safety committees to oversee implementation of the Agreement. Where unions exist they must be involved in the Committees. Training will be provided for committee members. These committees will ensure the Agreement will be a live document and be adapted to local needs and conditions.

UNI ICTS congratulates the UNI Orange Alliance, the French unions CGT, CFDT and FO, the Polish union NSZZ and Orange management who negotiated this innovative and forward thinking Agreement.