Organising workers in Decathlon Belgian Experience Peggy Schuermans LBC-NVK Antwerpen

Agenda 1. The Belgian Way 1.1 Social Dialogue in Belgium 1.2 Trade Unions in Belgium 1.3 LBC-NVK? 1.4 Social Elections 2. Decathlon in Belgium 3. The way we work @Decathlon 4. Any questions? UNI, Gdanks, Poland feb-18

1.1 Social dialogue in Belgium Belgium = small, but complicated! 1. The Belgian Way 1.1 Social dialogue in Belgium Belgium = small, but complicated! UNI, Gdanks, Poland feb-18

Different levels of social dialogue 1. The Belgian Way Different levels of social dialogue - Levels: National Sectoral Company - Collective labour agreements on all of these levels can be made binding UNI, Gdanks, Poland feb-18

Levels of social dialogue 1. The Belgian Way Levels of social dialogue Financial-economical Social/well-being at work Supreme Council for prevention And protection At work Central Council For Trade and Industry National Labour Council National Special advisory Commissions Sectoral Joint Industrial Committees Works Council Committee for prevention And protection at work Company Shops Steward Committee UNI, Gdanks, Poland feb-18

Social dialogue at company level 1. The Belgian Way Social dialogue at company level Works Council + 100 employees Equal representation of employee and employer representatives Social elections determine who is going to be an employee representative Meet monthly Tasks information and advice supervision =>Ex.: accounts, holidays,… decision UNI, Gdanks, Poland feb-18

1. The Belgian Way Social dialogue at company level Committee for prevention and protection at work + 50 employees Equal representation of employee and employer representatives Social elections determine who is going to be an employee representative Tasks advice about global prevention plan detect risks => Ex.: rate of flexibility, stresslevel,… prevent risks NO WORKS COUNCIL=SAME POWER COMMITTEE! UNI, Gdanks, Poland feb-18

Social dialogue at company level 1. The Belgian Way Social dialogue at company level Shop stewards committee Appointed by trade unions Number is fixed by a collective agreement on the branch level Tasks inform of the workforce negotiations of collective agreements assistance in case of individual conflicts the right to be heard in collective conflicts Possible - 50 employees, in that case same powers UNI, Gdanks, Poland feb-18

1. The Belgian Way 1.2 Trade Unions in Belgium =>Christian federation => Socialist federation => Liberal federation UNI, Gdanks, Poland feb-18

1. The Belgian Way Blue Collars White Collars UNI, Gdanks, Poland Metalworkers Building, Wood & Industry UNI, Gdanks, Poland feb-18

- Largest federation clerical workers/managerial staff 1.The Belgian Way 1.3 LBC-NVK? - Largest federation clerical workers/managerial staff - 5 Main branches: Industry Services Non-profit Distribution (commerce) Finances UNI, Gdanks, Poland feb-18

1.The Belgian Way UNI, Gdanks, Poland feb-18

1. The Belgian Way 1.4 Social Elections - Every 4 years in the private sector - Workers and employees elect their trade union representatives - Same system political elections - No obligation to vote, although quite high attendance Trade Union affiliation: 53 out of 100 employees UNI, Gdanks, Poland feb-18

2. Decathlon in Belgium - 1 Distribution Center - 1600 Employees - 13 Stores in Belgium (Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels Area) - 1 Distribution Center - 1600 Employees - Forecast coming 2 years: at least 6 new shops + 750 workers UNI, Gdanks, Poland feb-18

2. Decathlon in Belgium - Profile workers: young, sporting, part- time, no children - Out of grace: older, start having families and so less flexible, no more fear - Not really an issue: 35% alteration/year UNI, Gdanks, Poland feb-18

2. Decathlon in Belgium UNI, Gdanks, Poland feb-18

3. The way we work @ Decathlon - In 2008 for the first time candidates for the social elections - Start of the social dialogue @Decathlon, with representatives from the 3 trade unions. - Within confederation ACV-CSC, computer- system to help us find our members in the different companies. UNI, Gdanks, Poland feb-18

3. The way we work @ Decathlon - Trade Union representatives are part of works council, committee for prevention and protection at work and the shop stewards committee. - What do our representatives really do @ UNI, Gdanks, Poland feb-18

3. The way we work @ Decathlon 1. Follow meetings and work activally within this meetings: works council, committee and shop stewards committee 2.Come to our union education:we teach them how to act, negotiate, find new members, the legislation,.. . 3.Single point of contact for their collegues 4.Visit other branches from the group ALL POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF A SYSTEM OF SYNDICAL CREDITS: 14 days/4 years for education, max.12 hours/month for personal contact, meetings = working time. UNI, Gdanks, Poland feb-18

3. The way we work @ Decathlon What do we do as permanent trade union workers? 1. Support our representatives anyway we can 2. We are part of the negotiations 3. Take care of all promotional material - Member lists - Brochures from any subject UNI, Gdanks, Poland feb-18

3. The way we work @ Decathlon - All profiling of our union and our representatives - Direct information service to our members UNI, Gdanks, Poland feb-18

3. The way we work @ Decathlon How do we find new members… and keep them! CONTENT - Good collective agreements: payment Sunday hours en over hours, flexibility, breaks,… - Let the employees decide what we must fight for! - Good informed and trained union representatives PROFILING - Union premium every year for all affiliates! - Brand marking: recognizable by view - Publications - Promotional material - Union spot in the shop UNI, Gdanks, Poland feb-18

3. The way we work @ Decathlon Make it worth joining a trade union! Not easy =>need to fight for every new member: - Expensive (15,02 euro/month) - Young people = not interested - Not happy? Bye Bye Decathlon UNI, Gdanks, Poland feb-18

4. Questions UNI, Gdanks, Poland feb-18