IndustriALL and ENI agree on improved rights and world works council

The first global framework agreement (GFA) between IndustriALL and Italian oil and gas group Eni was signed in 2002 and renewed in 2004 and 2009. During the past 15 years, the company has expanded its exploration and extraction of oil and gas, refining and electricity operations to new and challenging countries such as Algeria, Angola, Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Libya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Kazakhstan and Venezuela.

At the same time, global agreements signed by IndustriALL have developed in scope and contents. The parties agreed that it was time to update this accord.

The renewed global framework agreement signed on 6 July 2016 in Barcelona by Eni, IndustriALL and its Italian affiliates FILCTEM-CISL, FEMCA-CISL and UILTEC-UIL implies among others the following improvements covering all Eni’s subsidiaries around the world:

• All workers are guaranteed the right to organize and bargain collectively. Eni is committed to treat unions positively, refrain from all anti-union activities and remain strictly neutral concerning employee preference to join, remain with or abandon their relationship with a union.
• Union representatives shall have a reasonable access to the workplace.
• ENI’s suppliers are requested to declare their acceptance of international human rights, and ensure their subcontractors abide by the same principles. Serious violations of human rights will lead to the termination of the relationship.
• Eni will ensure information and training on the contents and implementation of GFA to the management and workers.
• A coordinator position will be established for the implementation of the GFA. The coordinator will be nominated by IndustriALL and the three Italian signatory unions.
• A world works council will meet annually to discuss the implementation of the GFA. It will consist of the representatives of IndustriALL and the Italian unions, five members of the Select Committee of the European Works Council (EWC), and five workers' representatives from the non-European countries and business units of Eni. The costs will be paid by the company.
• The parties agree to work together to develop a dispute resolution mechanism in cases of violations against the GFA.

The agreement reconfirms the rights based on ILO cornerstone conventions, and on gender equality, equal opportunities, maternity protection, and non-discrimination.

“We are happy to see that Eni is taking these steps with IndustriALL and its affiliates worldwide to develop serious corporate social responsibility in partnership with management and unions,” said IndustriALL general secretary, Jyrki Raina.