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UNI Global Union Deputy General Secretary Christy Hoffman tells UNI Americas conference that global agreements are a true expression of global union power, global industrial power and key pillar of UNI’s Breaking Through mission.

Hoffman said, “UNI has 53 global agreements, with some of the world’s largest multinational employers.  We have two more which are about to be signed. Four agreements have been negotiated in the Americas, including Banco do Brazil and ITAU. After many years of campaigning, we even now have a new agreement with DHL. We are breaking through with global companies.”

Hoffman was clear that global agreements do make a difference, “We’ve had many, many successes implementing these agreements in the Americas.  For example, here in Colombia the Carrefour agreement supported the organizing of a new commerce union (now Cencosud), the organizing in Kimberly Clark and G4S. The G4S agreement has opened doors for organizing in many countries in the Region, including in El Salvador and Paraguay.”

The UNI GS said that it was true that GFAs were a challenge to enforce but that perseverance brought rewards, giving the example of Zara, “In the US, Zara managers in New York City have been trained in union avoidance and so at first they were not interested in a piece of paper signed in Europe.  It took coordinated actions between UNI Commerce, the Spanish home unions, and strong commitment from RWDSU in New York.  But now there is a union there- we won.”

Hoffman explained the reason why UNI is seeking an agreement with Prosegur, a company with a disgraceful record of anti-union attacks.

“We want a commitment from this company that it will change, that it will respect the unions in this region, that it will stop putting the greed of its owning family ahead of safe and decent conditions for its employees,”