Erstellt mit finanzieller Unterstützung der EU Kommission Luc Triangle, EMB 1 ROLE OF SOCIAL PARTNERS REGARDING MANAGEMENT OF INFORMATION, CONSULTATION AND PARTICIPATION IN THE TNCs AT EUROPEAN AND NATIONAL LEVELS Luc Triangle Chair EMF Company Policy Committee SWP

Erstellt mit finanzieller Unterstützung der EU Kommission Luc Triangle, EMB 2 1. SOCIAL DIALOGUE AS PART OF EUROPEAN SOCIAL MODEL Social Dialogue / Collective Bargaining / Information, Consultation and Participation makes Europe different from other key-economies -(draft) Political resolution EMF Congress 2007 : The key elements of the European social model as we see it are:. individual and collective social rights in working life;. well-developed social security systems, covering health, old age and unemployment;. free access to educational establishments, including advanced and continuing vocational training;. health and safety protection at work through active occupational safety;. an active gender mainstreaming policy;. the determination of working conditions and pay by collective agreement as well as an extensive, legally codified system of industrial relations;. workers involvement at company level through information/consultation and participation rights;. and the general availability of high-quality public services.

Erstellt mit finanzieller Unterstützung der EU Kommission Luc Triangle, EMB 3 1. SOCIAL DIALOGUE AS PART OF EUROPEAN SOCIAL MODEL This means collective approach vs. individual approach Collective : collective agreements, general minimum wages, working time agreements, representative and mandated employers federations ànd trade unions, regulation, solidarity, … Individual : no collective agreements, no regulation, individual negotiations, … We choose for the collective approach ! But need for : -strong representative employers federations and trade unions -an industrial relations system that creates the possibility to negotiate and bargain

Erstellt mit finanzieller Unterstützung der EU Kommission Luc Triangle, EMB 4 2. INFORMATION, CONSULTATION AND PARTICIPATION Information : the right to get information on the financial, economic and social aspects of the company Consultation : the right to give an opinion on the information, and in such a way that your opinion is of relevance for the decision of the company. Participation : the right to be part of the supervising or decision making bodies of a company These rights are a fundamental part of the European Social Model

Erstellt mit finanzieller Unterstützung der EU Kommission Luc Triangle, EMB 5 3. WHAT DOES EXIST AT EUROPEAN LEVEL Some examples 3.1. European Works Councils (1994) -Information and Consultation at European level -Transnational issues -Right for 30 countries, EMF asks to include also other countries -850 EWCs, 300 in Metal sector, EWC members -Annual (or more) meetings -Role in restructuring or other exceptional circumstances -> EWCs are key-actors in Transnational Companies, but we ask a revision of the directive so that real consultation can be achieved

Erstellt mit finanzieller Unterstützung der EU Kommission Luc Triangle, EMB 6 3. WHAT DOES EXIST AT EUROPEAN LEVEL 3.2. European Company Statute (2001) -One European legal statute at EU level for companies -Information and (better) Consultation rights for workers reps -Introduction at European level of Participation rights 3.3. National Information and Consultation Directive (2002) -Object : setting up minimum requirements for the rights to information and consultation of employees in undertakings or establishments (= national and local level)

Erstellt mit finanzieller Unterstützung der EU Kommission Luc Triangle, EMB 7 3. WHAT DOES EXIST AT EUROPEAN LEVEL 3.3. National Information and Consultation Directive (2002) WHY ? (see preambule directive) -Promote social dialogue between management and labour -Existing legal frameworks for social dialogue have not always prevented that serious decisions affecting employees have been taken, without adequate information and consultation procedures -Better anticipation on challenges in a company, by strenghtening social dialogue and promote mutual trust -In particular, social dialogue should be promoted and enhanced on employment trends in case when employment is under threat -Timely information and consultation is a prerequisite for the succes of restructuring and adapation to the new conditions created by globalisation

Erstellt mit finanzieller Unterstützung der EU Kommission Luc Triangle, EMB 8 3. WHAT DOES EXIST AT EUROPEAN LEVEL 3.3. National Information and Consultation Directive (2002) Art. 4, 2 INFORMATION AND CONSULTATION COVER : -Information on recent and probable development of activities and economic situation -Information and Consultation on the situation, structure and probable development of employment and on any anticipatory measures envisaged, in particular when there is a threat to employment -Information and consultation on decisions likely to lead to substantial changes in work organisation or in contractual relations

Erstellt mit finanzieller Unterstützung der EU Kommission Luc Triangle, EMB 9 3. WHAT DOES EXIST AT EUROPEAN LEVEL 3.3. National Information and Consultation Directive (2002) Art. 4, 3 Information shall be given at such time, in such fashion and with such content as are appropriate to enable, in particular, employee representatives to conduct an adequate study and, where necessary, prepare for consultation

Erstellt mit finanzieller Unterstützung der EU Kommission Luc Triangle, EMB WHAT DOES EXIST AT EUROPEAN LEVEL 3.3. National Information and Consultation Directive (2002) CONSULTATION SHALL TAKE PLACE – art. 4,4 -Ensuring that timing, method and content are appropriate -At the relevant level of management and representation -On the basis of information supplied by employer and of the opinion which the employee reps are entitled to formulate -In such a way to meet employer and to obtain a response, and the reasons for that response, to any opinion they might formulate -With the view to reach an agreement

Erstellt mit finanzieller Unterstützung der EU Kommission Luc Triangle, EMB SOCIAL PARTNERS ARE THE KEY ACTORS -Role of government to create the structures for collective bargaining and social dialogue -But : role of the social partners (employers federations and trade unions) is to build up representativity -The development of this social concertation model in the new EU member states as well in the applicant countries, will become crucial in the further existence and development of the European Social Model -Training and assistance needed ? But : Even in the best possible legal system for social dialogue : will trade unions have to show that they represent an important part of the workers.