Representatives from CGT, the French Metal Workers Union, are touring Australia to meet with Thales Management and AMWU Officials and workplace delegates.
The delegation from France has taken part in an AMWU Delegate’s Education Course in Melbourne and they will visit Thales sites at Garden Island and Rydelmere in NSW.
The tour is a result of the Constructive Relationship Agreement signed between Thales and five Australian unions: the AMWU, NUW, AWU, APESMA and ETU.
Thales employs a total of 3,800 people in Australia, with roughly 2,200 workers covered by union collective agreements.
AMWU Assistant National Secretary, Glenn Thompson, said Thales and unions are working together to create a national agreement to cover Thales workers in Australia.
“This meeting is to allow newly unionised workers and delegates to discuss the Constructive Relationship Agreement. This includes the creation of a national agreement to cover 1600 workers not currently covered by collective agreements, many of whom are subject to common law individual contracts. “
Mr Thompson said the agreement shows that employers and unions can work together to improve workplace productivity while protecting workers’ rights at work.
“The constructive relationship agreement with Thales recognises union rights, a commitment to collective bargaining and inductions with Thales workers not covered by collective agreements,” he said
Christian Pilichowski from CGT, the Metal Workers Federation of France, hopes the tour will help foster understanding between unionists in Australia and France.
“I’m here to meet Australian unionists at Thales so that we can improve our knowledge of each other. Our goal is to establish networks between unions and to share experiences so we are able to act together to improve conditions.”
While technology is helping to foster communications between unionists across the globe, Mr Pilichowski said it doesn’t compare to meeting other unionists in person and seeing the conditions in which they work.
“We are all fighting for improved workplaces, but the way we direct our unions are not the same because of differences in culture and history. The key is for us to meet, to listen, and learn in order to overcome these differences. Email and phone are not enough.”
Mr Pilichowski said solidarity between trade unions helps to benefit workers across the world.
“Thales Australia is the largest subsidiary of the company outside of France, so it’s important for French unions to work with unions in Australia. This tour is helping us to understand the context in which new agreements are signed in Australia and the goals of the AMWU. We can now work together to exchange information and advice on agreement negotiations and struggles.”