EWCs: Problems & Practices 29/10/11 29/10/11 EWC CEE EBR Les comités d’entreprise européens sont maintenant une réalité bien établie dans les pays de l’Espace Economique Européen. Il n’y a aucun doute sur le fait que la directive 94/45/EC a impliqué la négociation d’un grand nombre d’accords mettant en place des procédures d’information et de consultation des représentants des travailleurs dans les groupes et entreprises de dimension communautaire. Si plus de 430 accords ont été signés avant l’entrée en vigueur de la directive, cette anticipation a toutefois fortement été incitée par le fait que les directions étaient conscientes des contraintes de la législation à venir. Environ 300 accords ont depuis été conclus couvrant selon les estimations de l’Institut Syndical Européen approximativement plus de 70% des salariés des groupes et entreprises visés par la directive. La Confédération Européennees des Syndicats a formulé des demandes très claires concernant la révision de la directive 94/45/EC. Mais dans l’attente de cette révision les comités d’entreprise européens constituent une opportunité mais aussi un défi pour les organisations syndicales européennes. Ce défi peut être relevé grace à une stratégie syndicale de coordination des comités d’entreprise européens. 1

Council Directive 2009/38/ “the spirit” 29/10/11 29/10/11 Whereas appropriate provisions must be adopted to ensure that the employees of Community-scale undertakings are properly informed and consulted when decisions which affect them are taken in a Member State other than that in which they are employed; The EWC must be kept informed and consulted on the activities of the undertaking in general and in detail, specifically about those aspects of activities which affect employees’ interests 2

EWC - CEE Information & Consultation Dir 2009/38/EC Avis Opinion Stellungnahme Information & Consultation Dir 2009/38/EC 29/10/11 29/10/11 Impact? Time Temps Zeit EWC - CEE Content Contenu Inhalt Fashion Manière Weise 3

Quality of information and consultation 29/10/11 Quality of information and consultation

Transnationality – Transnationalité ? 29/10/11 29/10/11 Transnationality – Transnationalité ? EWC - CEE 5

Speaking time -Temps de parole 29/10/11 29/10/11 Speaking time -Temps de parole 6

Employer strategy For EWCs 29/10/11 29/10/11 You want the reps to communicate with YOU - not among themselves Les représentants communiquent avec VOUS - pas entre eux Die Vertreter sollen mit Ihnen kommunizieren nicht mit einander Employer strategy For EWCs 7

Europese ondernemingsraad 29/10/11 EWC – EBR- CEE:????? Ondernemingsraad Conseil d’entreprise Europese ondernemingsraad ……… European Works Council Betriebsrat Europäischer ..........? Europos darbų tarybos Samarbejdsudvalg Europæiske samarbejdsudvalg Comité d’entreprise européen EWC = CEE = EBR = EOR = CAE ???? 3 8 8

A possible evolution of a EWC 29/10/11 A possible evolution of a EWC participating EWC = interactivity between workers and management M symbolic EWC = empty box M project based EWC = internal consistency M passive EWC = source of information service provider M 9 source : typology of prof. dr. Hans-Wolfgang Platzer, Fulda university

My own classification of EWCs 29/10/11 My own classification of EWCs 10

EWC as the core of a representation network 29/10/11 A strategy: EWC as the core of a representation network UNION SYNDICAT UNION SYNDICAT GEWERKSCHAFT GEWERKSCHAFT UNION SYNDICAT GEWERKSCHAFT ETUF Coordination Local Reps Local Reps EWC CEE EBR Local Reps UNION SYNDICAT GEWERKSCHAFT UNION SYNDICAT GEWERKSCHAFT UNION SYNDICAT GEWERKSCHAFT Local Reps Local Reps Local Reps

How? Make the EWC to the core of a representation network 29/10/11 29/10/11 Make the EWC to the core of a representation network Organise information and consultation between the reps on an ongoing basis Coordinate with EIF and national TU organisations Train the reps Train the coordinators 12

TU and WCs = Organisations ≠ Networks 29/10/11 29/10/11 TU and WCs = Organisations ≠ Networks ORGANISATIONS Structure Statute Multiple objectives Hierarchy Membership Procedures for decision making (majority) Sanctions NETWORKS ? Few objectives Join & leave (voluntary) Consensus Moral sanctions (?) 13

the proactive EWC a way forward : the 3 C’s COHERENCE COMMUNICATION 29/10/11 the proactive EWC a way forward : the 3 C’s COHERENCE trust, respect, knowledge, homogeneity COMMUNICATION information sharing, networking, European mindset CAPTAIN Coaching leadership, structure, select committee, internal rules 14

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the proactive EWC communication 29/10/11 the proactive EWC communication Slide 8 shows the different resources required for good communication : e-mail, smart phone, for quick messages translation through online tools such as google translate… There is no one size fits all solution for reporting back to the local level : in some companies you can organise all staff meetings, others prefer to distribute a pamphlet or hang out posters. If there is a local representation body the EWC member should obviously report in those meetings. Finally, communication towards all staff or even towards the outside world can be done through websites or video messages which are on the intra- or internet. The example here is from the Finnish based EWC Fortum. A link is embedded in the image towards a video clip that was made by this EWC to explain why they feel it is important to have this European level I&C. Make sure your laptop is connected to the internet, click the image while you are running the presentation and it will lead directly to the clip on YouTube. Just to be sure, it is best to try this out before the training starts. Also make sure the sound is switched on and audible for the interpreters. 17 17

the proactive EWC Coaching - structure EWC SELECT COMMITTEE 29/10/11 the proactive EWC Coaching - structure EWC SELECT COMMITTEE CHAIR/SECRETARY 18

29/10/11 the proactive EWC qualities of a coach oui yes ja tak 19

the proactive EWC the network of a EWC 29/10/11 the proactive EWC the network of a EWC an EWC member is never alone: he/she is part of a huge network of people and organisations that can help to make the transnational activities useful and efficient 20 20

THE INNER CIRCLE the proactive EWC the inner circle : 29/10/11 the proactive EWC the inner circle : the members of the EWC coming from different countries can help each other, each individual member is the first one responsible for making it work the deputy members are often forgotten, but should be kept up to date constantly and can have interesting information themselves the chairperson and/or secretary have a central role for the good functioning of the EWC, preferably at least one of both should be a workers representative the select committee is responsible for all communication flows, should always be allowed to meet without management, but can also act as permanent link between management and the other EWC members central management and other management representatives that usually participate in the EWC meetings board level representatives, often also EWC or SE WC members THE INNER CIRCLE 21 21

THE CONTACT CIRCLE the contact circle : local workers representatives 29/10/11 the contact circle : local workers representatives local staff : obligation to inform them about the nature and the outcome of the discussions in the EWC, also source of information for identifying transnational subjects local trade unions, here as an example the three Belgian confederations (socialist, catholic and liberal) the European trade union federations, here as an example the metal workers, the services and the food/agriculture/tourism federation local management, often kept in the dark themselves by their hierarchy about what is being told in the EWC, partner for discussion about local consequences of central decisions, to be confronted with group policy if not respected locally THE CONTACT CIRCLE 22 22

THE SUPPORT CIRCLE the support circle : 29/10/11 the support circle : other EWC members of other multinational companies, useful as benchmark and for exchange of experiences especially when coming from the same sector the ETUC + SDA + ETUI + ITUC, link to the political level, coordination between trade union federations, research, health & safety specialists, training, project development experts, here as an example two major French offices trainers, here as an example FNV Formaat (the Netherlands) ant TCi (Germany) experts and trainers : use trade union friendly organisations ! THE SUPPORT CIRCLE 23 23

 3 CORE KPI OR « QUALITY CLUES » 29/10/11 the proactive EWC key performance indicators for EWCs ?  3 CORE KPI OR « QUALITY CLUES » not necessarily linked with agreement efficient and « satisfactory » running of EWC from trade union & employee perspective you can have very good agreement, but bad activity you can have excellent activity, but bad agreement efficient and satisfactory : performs its mission (I&C) and leaves a positive feeling 24 24

the proactive EWC some good examples Air France KLM 29/10/11 the proactive EWC some good examples Air France KLM public website, social and ethics charter, joint project for merger of Air France and KLM Solvay charter on good health & safety practices, global WC Danske Bank global framework agreement on fundamental labour rights Arcelor Mittal 5% wage increase in Bulgaria General Motors framework agreement to “share the pain” Volkswagen very active Global Works Council 26

reach for the stars ... ... together we can ! the proactive EWC 29/10/11 the proactive EWC reach for the stars ... ... together we can ! 29