(28 June 2011) The unions considered a number of articles of the proposed agreement which were still left and had an important discussion on the follow up to be given to the agreement. They also finalized their proposal for the preambule and agreed to set up a small working group to work on the data needed to monitor the agreement and including how to use the social reporting system of GdfSuez to monitor progress with achieving the benchmarks.

The unions also considered their response to the proposals made by management and which reacted to the trade union proposals on the first articles of the agreement. Two significant issues emerged: how to define the current situation on the basis of which we can monitor progress and especially with regard to pay inequality between men and women. And second: how to define the objectives of the agreement such that the main issues are included which could lead to a situation of equality between men and women in the company.

The trade union side met 20 June and 21 June morning and with management in the afternoon. The trade union delegation is composed of around 30 representatives of different countries in which GdfSuez is active as well as representatives of the European Federations EPSU, EMCEF, EMCEF. Jan Willem Goudriaan and Nadja Salson (expert) were present for EPSU.

The next meeting is foreseen for 8-9 September 2011, Paris. A report on the previous meeting is available here. The documents are available here (for our members only).