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EWC - CEE

EWCs: Problems & Practices

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Council Directive 94/45/EC “the letter”

No definition of the timing of information

Just a catalog of issues:

Consultation = ”establishment of dialogue an exchange of views”

Strategy Investments

What ?

Working methods

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Council Directive 94/45/EC “the spirit”

• 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

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Quality of information and consultation

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You want the reps to communicate with YOU

- not among themselves Les représentants

communiquent avec VOUS

- pas entre euxDie Vertreter sollen mit Ihnen kommunizieren

• nicht mit einander

Employer strategy

ForEWCs

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Information & ConsultationDir 2009/38/EC

EWC - CEE

TimeTemps

Zeit

ContentContenu

Inhalt

FashionManièreWeise

AvisOpinion

Stellungnahme

Impact?

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How?

• 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

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A strategy: EWC as the core of a

representation network

EIFCoordinatio

n

UNION SYNDICATGEWERKSCHAFT

CTI

Select committeeComité restreint

UNION SYNDICATGEWERKSCHAFT

CTI

UNION SYNDICATGEWERKSCHAFT

CTI

UNION SYNDICATGEWERKSCHAFT

CTI

UNION SYNDICATGEWERKSCHAFT

CTI

UNION SYNDICATGEWERKSCHAFT

CTI

UNION SYNDICATGEWERKSCHAFT

CTI

EWC CEE EBR

TU support

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…European Works

Council

Betriebsrat

EuropäischerBetriebsrat

Comitéd’entreprise

Comité d’entreprise

européen

EWC – EBR- CEE:?????

Ondernemingsraad

Ondernemingsraad

Conseil d’entreprise

Europese

ondernemingsraad

..........?

Europos darbų

tarybos Samarbejdsudvalg

Europæiske

samarbejdsudvalg

Samarbejdsudvalg

Europæiske

samarbejdsudvalg

Samarbejdsudvalg

Europæiske

samarbejdsudvalg

EWC = CEE = EBR = EOR = CAE ????

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Transnationality – Transnationalité ?

EWC - CEE

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Temps de parole

1%19%

2%

8%

0%

70%

UK

CES NL

D H

F

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TU and WCs = Organisations ≠ Networks

1. ORGANISATIONS• Structure• Statute• Multiple objectives• Hierarchy• Membership• Procedures for

decision making (majority)

• Sanctions

1. NETWORKS• ?• ?• Few objectives• ?• Join & leave

(voluntary)• Consensus• Moral sanctions (?)

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Some experiences

• A Networks is not an organisation– Few issues, an well identified objectives– Prepare but not take decisions– Implement some decisions– Improve the communication exchange of

experiences

• The network needs face to face meetings• The network needs competent

animateurs/coaches

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EWCs as Networks?

• Yes

• But they need also to become Representation Bodies (= organisations)

• They need TU support and coordination

• They need training

• They need facilities

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EWCs – How?

Create the conditions in the agreement• Transnational body• Structure (Group-wide or divisional? )• Definition of Information and Consultation• Frequency of meetings (extraordinary meetings), preparatory

& follow up meetings• Select committee• Experts (also TU co-ordinator)• Translation and communication facilities for the reps• Contacts with local representations

• Confidentiality & non disclosure• Training

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The EWC as the core of a representation network

• Co-ordinate information & consultation between local/national representation bodies• Monitor and reinforce local/national information, consultation & negotiation

procedures (increase TU-influence?)– MNCs also reports about sustainable development & CSR to investors, Global

Compact... (is the EWC informed and consulted about the content of those reports?)

– What can look like a very local issue, as i.e. renegotiating an agreement about overtime can impact on employment in an other site...

• Make use of national resourses and strengths an try to disseminate/mutualise their outcomes

– Expertise in France, board level representation in some represented countries...• Agree about & formulate a European ”mission statement” for the EWC, ”ground rules” and/or a

work programme• Develop own information tools and try to initiate an agreement about i.e. Minimum standards in

cases of restructuring.• MNCs have medium term strategic plans 3-5 years – Are the reps informed and consulted?....

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Improve the information and consultation procedurewith the central management

– Organise an effective follow up of the information and consultation practices of the central management

– ”Invite” the decision makers at meetings...• Document measures and decisions as well as breaches of

information and consultation rights• Develop common positions among the workers’ reps about those

breaches• Confront the central management with breaches during the

following meetingIf the management persists in not really informing and consulting – – Check if the company reports to a social rating agency (Global

Compact....) – call upon public opinion (press release...) – Submit the case to an OECD contact point – Take legal action

– Co-ordinate within the network

– Build the trust among reps (own projects and information tools)

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Strategy Investments

What ? Was ? Quoi?

Working methods

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Parental leave H & S

Working time

Equal opportunities

R & D

UNION SYNDICATGEWERKSCHAFT

CTI

Droits Rights

Training

Profit sharing

… + ?

Environment

SubcontratingOutsourcing

Performance

assesment