Union Relations

We strive to maintain positive relationships with our unions on both a national and local basis. Our philosophy centers on finding common ground, building trust, and working to care for employees as well as improve service.

Our professional labor relations experts work jointly with our management team to achieve mutually satisfactory and acceptable collective bargaining agreements. We work toward creating better working relationships through regular meetings at the local level and recently, by periodically hosting joint Veolia/Union conferences for our managers and their union leaders on a regional basis.

Using a combination of compliance through the application of labor law and collaboration through strong relationships, our team of labor relations experts works to achieve mutually satisfactory collective bargaining agreements. Our strategy is based on a five-part approach:

• Develop long-term, strategic relationships with all unions at all levels
• Enhance and improve organizational performance
• Collaborate on a day-to-day basis with labor relations
• Optimize collective bargaining
• Establish standardized contract administration

When negotiations are required, we strive to conduct them in a non-adversarial manner, using interest-based bargaining and, if necessary, turning to the expertise of representatives of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services to reach a mutually acceptable agreement.