I congratulate Telefonica for signing an agreement with UNI Global Union, to protect the basic rights of its workers to organise trade unions and to bargain collectively for working conditions.

But, in some countries, Telefonica workers do not enjoy all of those freedoms. In January 2009, 35 Telefonica unions wrote to you, asking that the company ensure the freedom of its workers to organise and bargain is respected worldwide. The unions asked Telefonica to ensure that its subcontractors also respect our rights.

I am joining trade unionists around the world in asking you to guarantee freedom to organise and freedom to bargain for all Telefonica workers.