From time to time you lose one it's normal

You encounter since almost a year in the United States at the frond of the SEIU Union who accuses you of "Union repression" to your employees. Why have waited so long before speak you on the subject

We are in a struggle for influence on the part of SEIU, not a social conflict. The Union wants to acquire a dominant position throughout the restoration sector in the United States and this is seeking an exclusive right of representation of staff, bypassing the free exercise of the right to vote by elections. We have always preferred the freedom of choice for our employees. But this Union operates all tracks to sully the image of Sodexo and put us in difficulty with our customers, businesses, schools, hospitals, army, etc. It does not purport to be perfect, but remember that Sodexo is 380.000 people working on 35,000 sites in 80 countries and serving 50 million people per day: we have not achieved this level by chance. Our core business, it is human!

SEIU recently dispatched American actor Danny Glover for surprise audits in the field. By denying access to companies that use without permission, do you not give there pretext of new criticism

We are not with us, but our customers! By duty contract and simply out of respect, we need their consent. Our law, it also does not discriminate against one Union over another. SEIU has unacceptable requirements, because he wants to evict other organizations. But we have negotiated 380 collective agreements with 33 other unions in the United States, without any problem, and we are preparing a global framework agreement with the International Union of food workers.

How do you explain however that the report of the NGO Human Rights Watch be if negative in your respect

We take the Human Rights Watch comments very seriously and we have provided answers point by point, but we do not agree with all the conclusions of this NGO. In the US, 15 of our employees are unionized, twice more than the average national. Our priority, it is the commitment of our employees through a policy of training and internal promotion very active. Compliance with laws, it creates jobs. On the American sites, the average salary of the employees of catering and services is 40 higher than the Federal minimum wage. Sodexo offer health coverage from $ 25 per month, systematically offers retirement plans registration, provides disability and death insurance. Moreover, 85 of our employees have stated that Sodexo was a better employer than its competitors. DiversityInc, we are in the forefront for diversity in the United States and Ethisphère among us the most ethical companies in the world...

On the different complaints before the National Labor Relations Board, a number were the subject of an amicable agreement. Why these transactions, if these complaints were unfounded

Everything just to avoid that these procedures not be protracted years and do cost money in legal costs, because American society is customary the fact!

There have been strikes in a dozen of sites, the decision to renew the contract with the Marines is delayed, cancelled several contracts school restoration... What will be the impact of these conflicts on the results of Sodexo

We will announce the results on November 10 and you will see that the impact will be non-existent. The award of the contract with the Marines is just delayed, as often for this type of calls for tender. We manage 2.853 American universities and colleges, public or private and 954. The contracts are renewed at 96. From time to time, you lose one, it's normal.

Will these tensions in the United States lead you to geographically reorient your strategy

No, North America remains a market representing 39 of our turnover and almost a third of our workforce, market on which we continue to invest, with offers value-added. We have become integrators of solutions of quality of life and this policy is relevant. But we have also created 30,000 jobs in India and 15,000 in China, we develop the Brazil, the Russia. For the moment these investments affect our results, but they have considerable potential.

Budgetary restrictions by Governments such as the United Kingdom penalize it them

The debts of the States lead them instead to outsource more. The "outsourcing" is substantive.

You have requested an audit of your social practices at Deloitte, what are its conclusions

They are not intended to be public, but the questions that have been raised in some countries may give rise to corrections plans. In any case, no substantive problem not been highlighted.

The extrafinancière rating agency Vigéo, which measures the social responsibility, developed Sodexo under supervision in the field of human rights and human resources. It notes that the reputation of the group is assigned and that its operations can be disrupted by the social climate. How do you get out of this conflict and straighten your picture

Through dialogue and the improvement of our internal process. We are working with Vigéo. Our image remains solid, Sodexo is the second French and world 21eemployeur in the world.