News

In late February, union leaders with the UNI-France Telecom global alliance met with management of France Telecom in Paris. This was the annual meeting during which the global social partners come together to discuss the implementation of the global agreement which has been in place since 2006.



This year, a key issue for discussion was a dispute in Cameroon, following the dismissal of a group of Orange Cameroon workers in early 2010.



In mid-December 2009, Orange Cameroon workers and their union, SYNACOM, took strike action. On 10 January 2010, the company took retaliatory action against workers and trade union delegates who had participated in the strike, through dismissal of employment, withholding wages, demanding explanations for workers' actions and formal disciplinary procedures.



SYNACOM said that the company's actions contravened national laws and the union leaders of the UNI-France Telecom global alliance made clear their view that the action contravened the terms of the global agreement.



Following the global alliance meeting a few weeks ago, the company has agreed to reinstate dismissed workers and the French unions have sent solidarity funds to cover costs incurred by workers, including lost wages.