Sanofi trade union network building constructive relationship with management

At the IndustriALL Global Sanofi Trade Union Network meeting at the company offices in Paris on 16 December, Sanofi employee representatives from Asia, Latin America and Europe invited management to discuss the company’s policies for respectful operations regarding people and the environment.

While IndustriALL affiliates in some countries are facing challenging issues at Sanofi, the full network welcomed the constructive management message about building a relationship with IndustriALL and the Union Network.

Aline Eysseric, Chair of the IndustriALL Global Sanofi Trade Union Network said:

“Sanofi employees around the world are seeing their living costs rise and are working to increase their wages to keep up with inflation. Our Network includes worker representatives reporting a range of realities, from mature industrial relations, to deadlocked negotiations. We are committed to working together to improve the lives of Sanofi employees everywhere.”

Sanofi is a world leading pharmaceuticals company, headquartered in France. The company’s recent financial performance has been very strong, posting nearly 38 billion euros in sales last year, and growth this year of over 17 per cent. The company’s global workforce has reduced over the last six years from 106,000 to 95,000, with most of the cuts made in sales positions.

The company has 69 industrial sites in 32 countries, and 21 research and development sites in 7 countries.

IndustriALL affiliates in different Asian countries are dealing with Sanofi reducing or selling their operations. These cases in particular require follow up between management and the global network.

IndustriALL Pharmaceuticals sector director Tom Grinter said:

“This is progress for the IndustriALL Sanofi Trade Union Network. Management is working constructively with us, and we will be following up on the priority issues of the group. Our network has strong unity, an experienced Chair, good flowing communication between the members throughout the regions, and a common commitment to work together to solve issues facing Sanofi workers.” 

Global solidarity of Sanofi trade unions

The latest global meeting of the IndustriALL network was conducted on 16 December. The group analyses the company’s operations, plans, and policies and develops joint responses.

The IndustriALL Sanofi Network exists at the global and regional levels, with three regional structures existing in Europe, Asia and Latin America. The Chair at European and global levels is Aline Eysseric of the FCE-CFDT in France, the company’s home country.

On 16 December the network decided to call on the company’s management to conduct dialogue with the global union group, in order to address a number of priority issues, and to hold information sessions on the important restructuring, new strategy rollout and new global HR Guidelines of the company.

Sanofi’s restructuring and relocations of operations have affected hundreds of union employees over the past two years, at a time of very successful business performance and high returns to shareholders.

A number of flashpoints for Sanofi unions currently include: the Indonesian IndustriALL FARKES decries their management taking advantage of weaker labour laws to cut severance pay; Pakistani affiliates were shocked to learn that the company plans to pull out of the country; European unions have been particularly affected by the major restructuring programs of the company and have concerns including around transparency and work life balance; Bangladeshi unions are still campaigning for a fair settlement for 52 employees affected by the company’s sale of operations to Beximco; and other union issues were reported from Canada, Turkey and Latin America.

Tom Grinter from the IndustriALL Secretariat, together with Network Chair Aline Eyserric are clear on the way to address the raft of challenges:

“Dialogue at the international level between our representative network and the headquarters management will provide the space to deal with all grievances. Both the company and the unions need this dialogue mechanism to support the maneuvering through of the pandemic and current historic period for the company and its employees. We expect the company to engage.”

Sanofi unions continue building unity

While conditions and industrial relations differ from Bangladesh to Brazil, from France to Japan, the common goal of the IndustriALL Sanofi Trade Union Network is to establish respectful and serious social dialogue at the global level with this employer.

Significant restructuring has recently been carried out by the company especially in Europe, with 1,200 office jobs cut in the continent, and in Japan. One major flashpoint currently for the global network is Sanofi’s operations in Bangladesh. The full network’s attention and solidarity is currently with the Bangladeshi Sanofi union, part of IndustriALL’s affiliate BCEF (Bangladesh Chemical, Energy & Allied Workers Federation). The union is mobilizing to persuade Sanofi not to downsize its operations in the country, and ensure that any changes are made through a strong social dialogue with the union. IndustriALL has raised its support for the Bangladeshi union’s demands directly with Sanofi.

Sanofi unions from throughout Asia

Istanbul. Turkey, 19-20 December 2019

In the fourth quarter of 2019, IndustriALL conducted a regional Sanofi trade union network meeting for Latin America, in São Paulo on 30-31 October, and a regional Sanofi trade union network meeting for Asia Pacific, in Istanbul on 19-20 December. The São Paulo event comprised an analysis and coordination meeting at the trade union headquarters of Químicos da Força, Fequimfar, followed by a day at the nearby Suzano factory of the company, giving the local management and the network the chance to meet and exchange with each other. The activity benefitted from the participation of the Chair of the Sanofi EWC, Aline Eysseric.

Sanofi union network at their meeting in Brazil

Suzano, Brazil, 30-31 October 2019

In Latin America, the Sanofi trade unions have a well-established network, with a chosen coordinator, Ademar José de Oliveira. Both IndustriALL affiliates, Fequimfar and CNQ-CUT are well organized at the different sites in Brazil, Campinas, São Paulo, Suzano and Guarulhos. Collective agreements at the plants have been developed through a relationship of trust dialogue, bringing provisions on healthcare, transport, childcare, profit-sharing and much more.

IndustriALL Director for the Pharmaceuticals Sector, Tom Grinter said:

“This is the example that we want to encourage throughout Sanofi’s operations. At the Suzano plant the union and management do not agree on everything, but there is a strong spirit of trust and common interest for the benefit of both the company and employees.”

The Latin American Sanofi Trade Union Network set their action plan to include: the coordinator actively continuing communication and information of the group, aiming for a national collective agreement for Brazil, each member union reiterating their support for an international relationship between the company and the global union, permanent commitment to the global network building effort, and sending a special solidarity greeting to the Asian Sanofi Trade Union Network meeting.

Inside the Suzano factory

31 October 2019, Suzano, Brazil

The Sanofi Asia Pacific Sanofi Trade Union Network also has a settled structure, chaired by brother Atsushi SAWAGURI of Japan. Different challenges face Sanofi workers in each country. In Pakistan and Bangladesh, the vast majority of the workforce is hired on temporary, precarious contracts. In Indonesia there are court proceedings between the parties, instead of harmonious industrial relations. In Japan there has been a steady reduction in jobs. In Turkey there is a very high workload for members, and an unfair tax burden on salaries.

The Asian colleagues committed to an action plan that included: strong information sharing and communication, facilitated by the network chair; standing in solidarity with colleagues in need, at present this means with the Bangladeshis who need to retain employment, rights and union recognition; hoping to establish contact with the Chinese Sanofi union via the Japanese colleagues; seeking the company’s recognition of the global trade union network.

IndustriALL Global Union assistant general secretary Kemal Özkan stated:

“There is a strong expectation of our group that the new Sanofi CEO Paul Hudson will not turn down the opportunity of a global social dialogue relationship with the global union network and IndustriALL.”