A historic agreement on "Freedom of Association, Minimum Labour Standards
and Employment In Latin American Banana Operations" was signed today at the
International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Geneva, Switzerland. The agreement
was signed by IUF General Secretary Ron Oswald, German Zepeda, coordinator of
the Latin American Coordinating Committee of Banana Workers’ Unions (COLSIBA),
and President and Chief Operating Officer Steven G Warshaw of Chiquita Brands
International. The signing was witnessed by ILO Director General Juan Somavia.
Through this signed agreement, Chiquita, a leading international marketer,
producer and distributor of quality fresh fruits and vegetables and processed
foods, confirms its commitment to respect core Conventions of the ILO on freedom
of association and minimal labour standards.
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IUF General Secretary Ron Oswald described the agreement as "historic
in the truest sense, meaning that it offers the possibility for workers and
employers to seek a new basis for the resolution of problems in an industry
which has throughout its history been highly confrontational." He added,
"We will seek through the agreement to build a relationship between Chiquita
and its workers based on mutual recognition and respect for human rights as
set out in the Conventions of the ILO. We hope that this agreement will serve
as a model for relations generally between international union organizations
and transnational companies."
The agreement also establishes the basis for joint union/management efforts
to address long-standing worker health and environmental concerns in the banana
industry by affirming that "Chiquita acknowledges its responsibility to
provide safe and healthy workplaces, and Chiquita and the IUF/COLSIBA agree
to collaborate in efforts to further improve the health and safety of the Company’s
banana operations."
"We hope that this agreement, which is based on mutual respect and openness,
will set new standards for the entire banana industry," said Steven Warshaw,
President and COO, Chiquita Brands International. "This agreement is an
example of Chiquita’s ongoing commitment to this process, which reaffirms
our position as an industry leader in the field of corporate social responsibility."
A joint IUF/COLSIBA/Chiquita Review Committee is to meet twice yearly to oversee
the application of the agreement and review any potential areas of concern.
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By GlobalDataThe full text of the agreement is available, in English and Spanish, on request
from the IUF secretariat and on the IUF web site (www.iuf.org),
or on the Chiquita website at www.chiquita.com.
