Read the public statement issued by the US NCP concluding the specific instance - 29 October 2013
In March 2013, the US NCP received a request for a review from the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Association (IUF) alleging that Mondelez International had breached the human rights, and employment and industrial relations provisions of the Guidelines in Tunisia and Egypt. The trade union alleged that managers intimidated and/or retaliated against certain workers for union-related activities. IUF also cited concerns about a worker safety incident at the company's Alexandria plant.
The US NCP shared IUF’s filing and Mondelez’s response with the Egyptian and Tunisian NCPs. It was agreed that the US NCP should take the lead in this specific instance as Mondelez’s alleged activities spanned two countries and ultimate corporate decision-making authority resided in the United States.
On 2 July 2013, after reviewing the information provided by the parties, the NCP issued an initial assessment to the parties determining that the issues raised by IUF merited further consideration under the Guidelines and offered its good offices to assist the parties in undertaking a dialogue to seek a positive resolution.
The NCP believed the two sides could benefit from a mediation process and offered the services of the neutral mediators employed by the US Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). In August 2013, Mondelez stated however that it would not participate in an information session with FMCS or any subsequent mediation offered by the NCP.
Due to the fact that the company was unwilling to proceed to mediation, the US NCP concluded the specific instance and issued a public statement detailing why.
The NCP remains prepared to assist the parties in undertaking a facilitated dialogue in the future, if the parties agree at a later date to pursue mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution.