This study builds on the research by Instituto Observatório Social (IOS) into Unilever Brazil’s operations in the context of the first phase of the Company Monitor Project. That study focused on two of the then 16 production units: Vinhedo (SP) and Vespasiano (MG), both in the Beauty and Style segment. It identified a number of problems, including the varying working conditions at the Unilever units in Brazil (in terms of salaries, overtime, machinery), a lack of common guidelines for collective bargaining and the fact that union activities were, in many cases, restricted by the company’s management. It found a lack of policies to ensure equal opportunities for women and black workers, and problems related to workers’ health, such as the occurrence of many cases of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI). It also elaborated on the use of child labour in the tomato harvest in Goiás, where the company has its tomato processing factory. Unilever announced the closing of the Vespasiano (MG) unit soon after the conclusion of the field research, and one year before the activities were effectively concluded.

The current research aims to analyse the development of the above issues over the past years. It was made possible by the Chemical Industries Workers Union of Vinhedo, Chemical Industries Workers Union of Pernambuco State, Food and Beverage Industries Workers Union of Garanhuns and the Food Industries Workers Union of Mogi Mirim. All these unions are affiliated to one of the largest confederations of trade unions: the Central Unica dos Trabalhadores or CUT. In addition, it was supported by CUT’s National Confederation of Food Workers: CONTAC. Furthermore, the president of the “Cocoa Products, Candy and Canned Foods Industries Workers Union” of Pernambuco, which represents the workers at Unilever’s ice cream unit in this state, provided a brief interview by telephone, but claimed not to be sufficiently informed to speak about the situation on the work floor. Interviews were also conducted with directors of the Chemical Industries’ Workers’ Union of Vinhedo and statements were collected from three other union directors during the Planning Seminar of the Unilever Brazil Union Committee in April 2005. A few additional unions were contacted by email and telephone but did not co-operate. All participating unions shared their Collective Agreements and Conventions, documents and brochures. The Collective Agreement finalised by the Cacao, Candy and Canned Foods Industries’ Workers’ Union of Pernambuco was taken from the website of the Ministry of Labour.

The company was also most co-operative. Researchers were able to meet with company representatives for Human Resources, Government Relations and Social Responsibility. The company responded to a questionnaire that focused on specific issues concerning the operations in Brazil and shared materials such as pamphlets and a video about Social Responsibility programmes.

This research also draws from information gathered during a visit to Unilever’s tomato processing unit in Goiânia in June 2005, in the context of a study into the Goiás tomato production sector. At the time, the researchers also interviewed one of Unilever’s largest tomato suppliers in Itaberaí.

Summary based on research by:
Fernanda Raquel, Daniela Sampaio, and João Paulo Veiga
Instituto Observatório Social, Brazil
February 2005 to March 2006

Research conducted in co-operation with SOMO and FNV Bondgenoten
Commissioned by FNV Mondiaal for the project FNV Company Monitor