In April 2015, when the Group announced its new strategic direction, the European federations and ENGIE management immediately considered opening transnational negotiations in the light of substantial transformations of the French energy company. The trade unions, under the umbrella of the European federations, then negotiated a European agreement for the employees aimed at improving their social conditions in four key areas: employment, training, professional mobility, as well as social guarantees in the event of change (see attached the agreement in 9 different languages).

The positive assessment of the agreement will, in the long run, be dependent on its exemplary implementation, given its far-reaching provisions. They indeed imply the improvement, or even the establishment, of new rights for the employees in all of the countries concerned, and the (at the very least) retention of those rights in the event of a change of situation. Furthermore, a non-regression clause ensures that the existing (legal or acquired through collective agreements) acquis cannot be reduced.

The signatories, ENGIE management and European trade unions, are key actors in the deployment of the agreement. Its implementation is based on social dialogue which therefore gets a new impetus at the different Group’s levels. In addition, a Monitoring Committee will be set up and the European federations or the Group management could be alerted in the event of non-compliance with the agreement and its application. The agreement also provides for a communication campaign aimed at raising awareness amongst workers, including a trade union flyer which will be distributed to all ENGIE workers in Europe as well as a joint press release.

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