Experiences of the participation in social dialogue at the EU level

Balatonszemes 2010.04.22.

Experiences of the participation in social dialogue at the EU level


Social dialogue

• Consultation and information among social partners

• Social partners: employersemployeesgovernment

• Form of participation: tripartite

bipartite


History of consultation in Europe

• at the level companies with the same owners/shareholders

European Works Council

• at the level of companies in the same sector

sectoral social dialogue

(SSD)


European Works Councils

• 1990ies: influx of large corporations to Eastern Europe

• elbow-room of companies increase – dependance of employees increase, too

• need for a consultation forum for the multinational company as a whole

• 1994 EU directive - development of the EWC


ENI European Works Council• established 1995:

ENI – EMCEF – FILCEM, FEMCA , UILCEM

• agreement renewed after 3 years• members: 1 secretary, 1 from EMCEF, 3 from

Italian unions, 15 Italian, 15 European employees

• meetings: once a year + special negotiating body• themes: strategic plan, employment policy,

consultation


Positive factors in the EWC work

• contacts with representatives of other affiliates• access to useful information• possibility to establish contacts among the

workers representations of the different companies

• joint action, raising awareness


Negative factors in the EWC work

• number of meetings not enough• reports do not cover all important issues• employer provides the report only at the

meeting, no possibility to prepare• problems of the mother company get more

emphasis than the rest• local problem cannot or only marginally be

covered (wages, organisational changes)


Is the right for information and consultation sufficient for the EWC?• two principles clash:

- the interference in the decision making mechanism of the company is an obstacle to the free disposal over the property- decisions concerning the living and working conditions of the employees are taken at the corporate (multinational) level

• 2002 the EU passed new directives on EWCs: the objective is tto strengthen the dialogue between the social partners


Sectoral Dialogue Committees

• 1963: development of the institution of sectoral social dialogue

• established on the joint initiative of the social partners

• task:

- consultation on common developments- establish and promote sectoral social dialogue


Developments in the work of the sectoral dialogue committees

• in the beginning:

joint statements, recommendations(employment, working time, vocational training)

• later:voluntary agreements (low level minimum

standards)


European Sectoral Social Dialoguie Committee Gas Industry

• established: March 2007

• social partners:

-EMCEF -EPSU

-EUROGAS


2007-2008

ECOTEC study:

• the general situation of the gas industry, strengths and weaknesses

• demographic changes and their impact on the gas industry


Guarantee qualified workforce

• define required professions

• keep the elderly generation active

• life-long-training

• attract young workers to the sector


Health and safety

• create healthy working conditions

• health checks

• minimise work-related accidents


Social responsibility

• develop joint models on labour safety and environment

• present best practices, develop a tool-kit


The future of energy in Europe

• changes in the use of gas

• EU 3. Energy packagedefine the energy process until 2050


Annual programme 2010

• occupational health and safety

• reorganisations

• vocational training and qualification

• equal opportunities


Thank you for your attention!

Gyula VargaGas Industry Trade Union Federation

VDSZ

Documents

Experiences of the participation in social dialogue at the EU level