SUEZ negotiating group meets 1 Feburary 2007

The group met to consider the state of play. Discussions are ongoing on a charter on equality, on employment policy, a wage norm and a profit-sharing scheme. The final results will contain orientations for the social partners. Not much progress has yet been achieved although most issues are slowly moving forward. The meeting also received a presentation of management concerning SHERPA, the organisational re-think of SUEZ. Its aims is to achieve synergies, discover potential and realise additional value. It will concern around 5000 workers in the whole group. Its groups functions together and should stimulate mobility. Union representatives made clear that this should not lead to job losses, to forced mobility or to a devaluation of someones professional experience. Several representatives expressed that the proposals of management were too rosy, as several companies are sill reeling from reestructuring and Optimax (reduction of spending). Further information will be provided.