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Kimberly-Clark can strengthen employee relations with global agreement

Published: 16 April 2009
Google translate: 

 UNI Graphical & Packaging today said it is encouraged that during a recent meeting with Kimberly-Clark the value of a global dialogue was recognized by both parties.



At a meeting in Atlanta last week, UNI, UK union UNITE and American union United Steelworkers (USW) met with top Kimberly-Clark executives to discuss working conditions and union rights for their 53,000 employees worldwide. It was the unions’ second meeting with top management at the company. The multinational reiterated its commitment to fair remuneration and benefits for its workers but refused, for the moment, to start crafting a plan for a global agreement that would enshrine its commitment to its workers and to their right to union representation.



“With a global agreement, Kimberly-Clark’s would make their commitment to decent working conditions more visible,” said Adriana Rosenzvaig, head of UNI Graphical & Packaging. “We will continue to partner with all our member unions at Kimberly-Clark to advocate for workers and to convince the company that a global agreement will only enhance its business.”



The company says on its website that it’s “committed to cultivating a fair, respectful and engaging work environment that inspires our diverse global team to thrive professionally and contribute to the communities where we operate.”



At the next meeting of the Kimberly-Clark Global Network, which will take place in Berlin on April 21, unions will start discussions on organising a global conference, which could take place in March 2010 in the USA.



In Argentina, where Kimberly-Clark workers are organized under a national Federation (Papers Workers Federation), the company recently established a code of conduct that requires suppliers to ensure they meet certain standards, including the right of workers to join a union, organize and bargain collectively in a legal and peaceful manner.



“We hope that the supplier code of conduct in Argentina is a sign of things to come for Kimberly’s global business practices,” Jon Geenen, USW International Vice President. “Clearly Argentinean management have realised the importance of unions in creating quality jobs and quality products and we hope that realization will spread among the rest of the multinational’s executives.”



UNI Graphical recently signed a global agreement with the Swedish printing company Elanders and is looking to sign a global agreement with the American RR Donnelley.