From Yahoo Finance · · 1m 10s
Unilever Faces Double Standards Accusation
Unilever accused of unequal pay protections post McCormick merger.
In brief
Unilever accused of unequal pay protections post McCormick merger. Unilever faces accusations of double standards for workers' pay and benefits after merging with McCormick, with European employees getting two years of protection versus one year outside Europe. Originally reported by Yahoo Finance.
Unilever accused of double standards
The IUF union claims Unilever has unequal pay and benefits protections for workers in Europe versus outside Europe after the McCormick merger.
“The IUF union has accused Unilever of "double standards" in pay and benefits negotiations for workers in and outside of Europe post the McCormick deal.”
European workers get two years protection
Unilever committed to two years of pay and benefits protection for European employees following the McCormick merger completion.
“It emerged in July the London-headquartered FMCG major had made a commitment to European employees to honour existing pay and benefits for two years after the completion of the tie-up with US-based McCormick & Co.”
Global workers get one year protection
Swiss-based IUF states Unilever offers only one year of pay and benefits protection for workers outside Europe post the merger.
“However, similar arrangements for staff outside of Europe are for a shorter one-year period, according to Switzerland-based IUF, which represents the food, drinks, agricultural and hospitality industries.”
Unilever responds to accusations
Unilever stated it continues constructive engagement with works councils and focuses on supporting employees during the separation process.
“We continue to engage constructively with our works councils and other employee representatives and have made good progress.”
IUF demands universal two-year commitment
IUF insists Unilever must provide equal two-year pay and benefits protection for all global workers post merger.
“Unilever refuses to engage on this at an international level and has indicated that, outside of Europe, unions should negotiate locally or regionally over the two years' protection”
CMA investigates merger impact
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority is investigating Unilever's $44.8bn sale of food assets to McCormick for potential competition effects.
“McCormick's deal for most of Unilever's food assets is being investigated by the CMA to ascertain if the transaction will have any impact on competition.”
The one thing
Unilever faces accusations of double standards for workers' pay and benefits after merging with McCormick, with European employees getting two years of protection versus one year outside Europe.
