BAE Systems (headquartered in the UK) is a global defence, aerospace and security company employing around 82,500 employees worldwide. The company has wide-ranging products and services cover air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology, and support services. The company mainly operates in Australia, India, Saudi Arabia, UK and USA.
The BAE trade union network was launched in November 2014 at IndustriALL Global Union’s shipbuilding-shipbreaking world conference in Japan. Since then, the network has convened eight conferences via telephone and video.
Key activities of the network are as follows;
- information sharing
- solidarity with cross border struggles
- setting up a system to share agreements
- expanding network delegates’ involvement
- securing BAE’s support for union global activity
- mapping of global contractors that operate within the BAE global sites
- co-ordination of the IndustriALL campaign for the Hong Kong Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships
The unions at the meeting discussed a strategy for the future cooperation and developed a work plan. As part of the work plan, BAE network unions from Australia and USA will participate at the BAE Systems CEO UK Trade Union Forum. The event, which is held twice a year, allows trade unions to receive an update on the company’s performance and business strategy.