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Figure 1

The European Works Council Directive

Directive 94/45/EC

NFU EWC Conference22 October 2007

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Figure 2

150150

(+)(+)

150150

(+)(+)

10001000(+)(+)

Companies or groups affected by the directive

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Figure 3

Criteria determining a Criteria determining a controlling undertakingcontrolling undertaking

Controlling undertakings

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Figure 4

Starting negotiations on establishing an EWC: constitution of a special negotiating body

Written request for negotiations

100100

(+)(+)

ExpertsExperts

No! No!

22//33

Special Special negotiatinnegotiatin

g bodyg body

Central Central managementmanagement

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Figure 5

Items to be agreed in the agreement

2 x

Undertakings Undertakings affectedaffected

CompositionComposition of the EWCof the EWC

InformationInformation and and consultationconsultation

Venue, frequency Venue, frequency and duration of and duration of

meetingsmeetings

Financial and Financial and material material

resourcesresources

Validity of the Validity of the agreementagreement

Special negotiating

body

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Figure 6

Application of subsidiary requirements

6 months6 months3 years3 years

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Figure 7

Subsidiary requirements

One meeting per One meeting per yearyear

Designation of Designation of membersmembers

Information and Information and consultationconsultation

Extraordinary Extraordinary meetingsmeetings

Internal preparatory Internal preparatory meetingmeeting

ExpertsExperts

Financial and material Financial and material resources resources

extra

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Figure 8

Company Company structurestructure Employment Employment

trendstrends

Mergers, downsizing, Mergers, downsizing, closuresclosures

Economic and Economic and financial situation financial situation

and trendsand trends

New working New working methodsmethods

Organisational changesOrganisational changes Investment plansInvestment plans

€€€€

Transfer of productionTransfer of productionCollective redundanciesCollective redundancies

€

Changes in Changes in activities, activities,

production production andand sales sales

Information and consultation rights (subsidiary requirements)

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Figure 9

Most EWCs are based on Article 13 of the Directive

Article 1367%

Article 633%

Subsidiary requirements

0%

Three types of EWCThree types of EWC

• Article 13 – before 22/09/96Article 13 – before 22/09/96• Article 6 - negotiated by the special negotiating bodyArticle 6 - negotiated by the special negotiating body• Where negotiations break down: subsidiary requirements (annexe)Where negotiations break down: subsidiary requirements (annexe)

Three types of EWCThree types of EWC

• Article 13 – before 22/09/96Article 13 – before 22/09/96• Article 6 - negotiated by the special negotiating bodyArticle 6 - negotiated by the special negotiating body• Where negotiations break down: subsidiary requirements (annexe)Where negotiations break down: subsidiary requirements (annexe)

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Figure 10

The Demands of the ETUC

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Figure 11

ETUC strategy in view of the revision of the European Works Councils Directive : 

a) Definition of the notions of information and consultation

b) Recognition of the union's role 

c) The procedure for renegotiating agreements

d) A clearer definition of the notion of 'controlling undertaking'

e) Training

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Figure 12

ETUC strategy in view of the revision of the European Works Councils Directive :

f) Shortening the period for negotiations

g) Sanctions

h) Confidentiality

i) Recourse to experts

j) Access to sites

k) The right to preparatory and follow-up meetings

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Figure 13

The Annex (1-5)

1. Definitions of ‘information’ and ‘consultation’

2. The role of the trade unions

3. The maximum number of persons in SNBs and EWCs (in the subsidiary requirements)

4. The procedure for renegotiating agreements

5. Provision for a second exceptional meeting

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Figure 14

The Annex (6-10)

6.One-year negotiating period

7.Better definition of “controlling undertaking”

8.Access to workforce and workplaces

9.Confidentiality

10. Penalties

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Figure 15

The Annex (11-15)

11. Legal challenges

12. Information on eligibility

13. Preparatory and follow-up meetings for SNBs and EWCs (in the subsidiary requirements)

14. Training

15. Experts (EWCs)

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Figure 16

The Annex (16-19)

16. Experts (SNBs)

17. Select committees

18. Two meetings a year for EWCs

19. Interpretation and translation of documents

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Figure 17

The Annex (20 & 21)

 20. The topics of ‘health and safety policy’, ‘training and education policy’,‘environmental policy’ and ‘equal opportunity policy’

21. Gender balance in EWCs

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Figure 18

The Annex (22-26)

22. “Ideological guidance” undertakings

23. Commercial shipping

24. The ‘transnational’ criterion

25. Reducing the threshold

26. Registering agreements