GENERAL PREMISE
In the face of the always broader affirmation in society of the values of free initiative and of the recognised social function of the free market and of private property, with a sense of responsibility and with moral integrity the “Unione Imprese Storiche Italiane” sets itself the objective of continuing to contribute to the development process of the Italian economy and to the civil growth of the country. Within this perspective, the “Unione Imprese Storiche Italiane” considers the duty to:
- preserve and extend the reputation of Italian ultra-centenarian enterprises, their historic value as an independent social force that is responsible and ethically correct.
- contribute in concrete manner to improving the country-system, in the first place through its own conduct, to be an essential element of the entire system.
The “Unione Imprese Storiche Italiane” pledges itself and, through it, all its components, namely:
- ultra-centenarian Enterprises that are members;
- entrepreneurs who hold associative offices;
- entrepreneurs who represent the system in outside bodies;pledge themselves, to implement - with transparency and respect - models of conduct inspired by autonomy, integrity, and ethical principles, and to develop coherent actions.
The entire associative system, from the individual member enterprise to the highest membership levels, should be sharers and involved in pursuing the objectives in obedience to the relative procedures, since each individual form of conduct that is not ethically correct not only can cause negative consequences in the associative environment, but can also damage the image of the entire category with the public opinion, with the legislature, and with the public administration.
The ethical principle of forms of conduct can be evaluated not only in terms of the strict observation of legal regulations and the charter. It is based on a convinced adhesion to set for oneself, in the different situations, the highest standards of conduct. The process with which these objectives can be attained is necessarily bi-directional. The representative system supplied the lines of orientation, the instruments, and the material supports that make possible the high standards of conduct required, and the Member Enterprises pledge themselves to accept them and to decide on the consequent forms of conduct.
Section 1 – Members
In being a part of the “Unione Imprese Storiche Italiane”, the member enterprises pledge themselves to take into account, in every single professional and associative form of their conduct, the consequences on the entire company body. They therefore pledge themselves:
1. As enterprises
- to apply entirely laws and work contracts;
- to comport themselves with justice in regard to their own collaborators, favouring their professional growth and safeguarding safety in the work place;
- to assume an impartial and correct attitude towards clients, suppliers and competitors;
- to maintain relations inspired by correctness and integrity with the public administration and with political parties;
- to consider the protection of the environment and the prevention of every form of pollution to be a constant commitment.
2. As members
- to participate in the associative life;
- to contribute to members’ choices with full integrity and freedom from internal and external pressures, having the interest of the entire “Unione” as their priority objective;
- to inaugurate and maintain a full associative relationship and to communicate in advance every contingency that may be contrary to the general interests.
Section 2 - ASSOCIATIVE HIGH ECHELONS
Election to office is subordinated to a control of the maximum correspondence of the candidates with a strict and substantial adherence to blameless personal, professional, and membership forms of conduct. Candidates pledge themselves to supply with all the necessary information to qualified petitions.
Those appointed to office pledge themselves to:
- take on appointments out of a spirit of service towards members, the associative system and the outside word, without availing themselves of them personally or of third persons for direct or indirect advantages. All associative appointments provided for in the Charter are unpaid;
- maintain a form of conduct inspired by autonomy, integrity, loyalty and a sense of responsibility towards members and institutions, by cancelling personal political options during the course of the appointment;
- keep confidential any information which may come into their possession in virtue of their office;
- treat associates with equal dignity, irrespective of the dimensions and sectors of their affiliation;
- maintain also with associations of trade unions and political forces a conduct that is inspired by autonomy and independence, providing correct information for the definition of legislative and administrative activities;
- involve in effective manner the “Unione”’s decision-maker organs for a shared management that is open to the various requests;
- re-submit their mandate should the duration of personal, professional or objective motives be damaging to the image of entrepreneurship and of the “Unione”.
Section 3 – Protective bodies
The control and application of the rules of conduct indicated above are referred to a Regulator entity made up of the Board of Directors assisted, as per the Charter, by the Board of Arbitrators.