B3-1572, 1574, 1575, 1585, 1635 and 1638/93

Resolution on the failure by a multinational to recognize its employees' trade union

The European Parliament,

A.whereas the Social Charter clearly establishes the right of every employer and every worker in the European Community to join freely any legally constituted professional organization, trade union or association of his choice,

B.whereas the Maastricht agreement on social policy clearly defines dialogue between management and labour as a stated objective for the Community and its Member States,

C.whereas the information and consultation of workers must form an integral part of the management/employer relationship,

D.whereas Zurich Insurance has set up a new division - Zurich Municipal - in the United Kingdom,

E.whereas 1000 members of the MSF trade union in Municipal Mutual Insurance have been derecognized by Zurich Municipal,

F.whereas the UK Government proposes to abolish the Agricultural Wages Board,

G.whereas the constitution of the ILO states that collective bargaining is a right of employees, implying the entitlement to negotiate with employers with respect to employment and working conditions and social guarantees,

H.whereas the framework for collective bargaining systems shall remain a national responsibility as set out in the agreement on social policy,

I.recognizing ILO Conventions 99 and 101,

J.whereas the Council of Europe adopted a Convention open for signature on 28 January 1981 concerning the protection of individuals with regard to the computer processing of personal data,

1.Notes that every worker has the right to join the trade union which he feels will best represent his interests;

2.Rejects moves by any enterprise, multinational or otherwise, to refuse to recognize its employees' trade union;

3.Underlines the importance of on-going social dialogue in order to foster a productive working environment;

4.Condemns the derecognition of the MSF trade union by Zurich Municipal and calls on the management of Municipal Mutual Insurance to reinstate the rights previously held by the staff to collective representation through the MSF union just as its parent company, Zurich Insurance, deals with the relevant unions in other Member States;

5.Considers that the abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board would remove the mechanism of accord and cooperation and should therefore not be accepted until there is another mechanism for collective bargaining;

6.Considers that the unlimited exchange of personal data and other data concerning private life represents an unprecedented threat to respect for the right to privacy, and condemns such practices;

7.Calls for the legislation of the Community and the Member States to ensure a high level of protection of privacy in the Community without any reduction in the standards achieved in certain Member States;

8.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the United Kingdom Government and Zurich Insurance.