(16 May 2008, Brussels) On 14 May 2008, Paris, the European trade union group in Gaz de France, one of the largest utilities multinationals, held its second negotiating meeting on the drafting of a Corporate Social Responsibility Group Agreement.

It was a positive and constructive meeting. Most of the trade union demands to the draft agreement have been taken on board by management, such as a broad scope of application, broad coverage of all working conditions including wages, social procurement, establishment of a follow-up committee including trade union representatives.

Some issues will need further discussions notably references to the EU legal framework including collective agreements, protection and equal treatment of trade union representatives, terms of reference of the follow-up committee.

Management is now expected to make new proposals on the above.

The next, and possibly final, meeting will be on 3 June in Paris, starting with a trade union preparatory meeting in the morning and plenary with management in the afternoon. Didier Baur, EPSU president of the European social dialogue committee gas and EPSU officer Nadja Salson represented EPSU.