1. EWCs: Problems & Practices
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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

2. Council Directive 2009/38/ “the spirit”
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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

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

4. Quality of information and consultation
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Quality of information and consultation

5. Transnationality – Transnationalité ?
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Transnationality – Transnationalité ?
EWC - CEE 5

6. Speaking time -Temps de parole
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Speaking time -Temps de parole 6

7. Employer strategy For EWCs
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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

8. Europese ondernemingsraad
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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

9. A possible evolution of a EWC
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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

10. My own classification of EWCs
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My own classification of EWCs 10

11. EWC as the core of a representation network
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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

12. How? Make the EWC to the core of a representation network
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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

13. TU and WCs = Organisations ≠ Networks
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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

14. the proactive EWC a way forward : the 3 C’s COHERENCE COMMUNICATION
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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

16. 29/10/11

17. the proactive EWC communication
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the proactive EWC
communication
Slide 8 shows the different resources required for good communication : , 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

18. the proactive EWC Coaching - structure EWC SELECT COMMITTEE
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the proactive EWC
Coaching - structure
EWC
SELECT COMMITTEE
CHAIR/SECRETARY 18

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

20. the proactive EWC the network of a EWC
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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

21. THE INNER CIRCLE the proactive EWC the inner circle :
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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

22. THE CONTACT CIRCLE the contact circle : local workers representatives
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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

23. THE SUPPORT CIRCLE the support circle :
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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

24.  3 CORE KPI OR « QUALITY CLUES »
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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

26. the proactive EWC some good examples Air France KLM
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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

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