Industrial relations and sustainable

development

A three year dialogue between EpE

member companies and French
trade unions

R. ARMAND, EpE : www.epe-asso.org

OECD Environmental Strategy

Joint Business and Trade Unions Meeting 1.03.06

06-042-SF
OECD Environmental Strategy
1- Maintain the integrity of ecosystem
ecosystems 4- Enhance quality of life
 Climate change  Health and safety
 Freshwater  Urbanization
 Biodiversity  Education

2- Decouple environmental process 5- Improve governance and

from economic growth co-operation
 Agriculture  Multilateral
 Transportation Environmental
Agreements
 Energy
 Foreign investment and
trade
3- Improve information for decision
making
 Indicators
 Accountability

R. ARMAND, 1.03.06 OECD Environmental Strategy - Joint Business and Trade Unions Meeting 1.03.06 2
The following slides are the outcome of a
three-year dialogue between EpE
member companies and French trade
unions,
and do not represent the views of BIAC

R. ARMAND, 1.03.06 OECD Environmental Strategy - Joint Business and Trade Unions Meeting 1.03.06 3
Why is it of interest to company management and trade
unions develop relations on sustainable development ?

 Trade unions are a stakeholder and

should be considered as such

 Trade unions are a particular

stakeholder

R. ARMAND, 1.03.06 OECD Environmental Strategy - Joint Business and Trade Unions Meeting 1.03.06 4
Why ?

1- From a company viewpoint :

 Trade unions are linked to the personal of the
company
 Trade unions have their own views on
sustainable development issues
 Trade unions are at the junction of the company
and its business and institutional environment
 Companies are used to discuss with trade
unions
 Trade unions’ structures are symmetrical to
companies’ structures

R. ARMAND, 1.03.06 OECD Environmental Strategy - Joint Business and Trade Unions Meeting 1.03.06 5
Why ?

 Trade unions’ structures are

symmetrical to companies’ structures
Holding International
confederation

International line International trade

divisions unions

National
confederations
National lines
Professional
federations

Sites Regional structures

R. ARMAND, 1.03.06 OECD Environmental Strategy - Joint Business and Trade Unions Meeting 1.03.06 6
Why ?

2- From a trade union viewpoint :

 Companies’ structures are symmetrical to trade
unions’ structures
 Company’s opinions, even if different, might
help to better understand sustainable
management issues
 Sustainable development opens new avenues
for discussions, if not negotiations, with
companies
 Trade unions must not be left behind others
stakeholders

R. ARMAND, 1.03.06 OECD Environmental Strategy - Joint Business and Trade Unions Meeting 1.03.06 7
How could company management and trade unions
develop relations on sustainable development ?
1- A pragmatic, voluntary way

Particular stakeholders
Civil society demands
demands
Function A
policy
(HR, Purchasing,
Environment, etc.)

Policy
Learning by broadening
sharing

Function B Negotiation / dialogue

policy

R. ARMAND, 1.03.06 OECD Environmental Strategy - Joint Business and Trade Unions Meeting 1.03.06 8
How ?

2- A managerial, systemic way

Consultation Consultation
(1)
Other
Corporate level
international Holding
Stakeholders (2)
Work’s Council

Other national Company level

National Lines
Stakeholders Work’s Council

Other local Site level

Sites
Stakeholders Work’s Council

R. ARMAND, 1.03.06 OECD Environmental Strategy - Joint Business and Trade Unions Meeting 1.03.06 9
How ?

3- Extension along the supply chain

 Subcontractors
 Suppliers
 Customers

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How ?

4- International extension
 Joint pressures on other stakeholders
 Partnerships
 International framework agreements

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Conclusion

 No one – best way

 No one – best starting point

… Just, let’s try it.

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