29 october 2001efbww1 an introduction for efbww 1. general introduction 2. emf principles 3. emf ewc...

29 October 2001 EFBWW 1

An introduction for An introduction for

EFBWWEFBWW1.1. General introductionGeneral introduction

2.2. EMF PrinciplesEMF Principles

3.3. EMF EWC Task ForceEMF EWC Task Force

4.4. Binding GuidelinesBinding Guidelines

5.5. EMF EWC Co-ordinatorsEMF EWC Co-ordinators

6.6. Other activitiesOther activities

7.7. Role EWCs vs. Trade unionsRole EWCs vs. Trade unions

By Luc TRIANGLE, Chairman EMF EWC Task ForceBy Luc TRIANGLE, Chairman EMF EWC Task Force

-


1.1. GENERAL INTRODUCTIONGENERAL INTRODUCTION

demand for more than 25 yearsdemand for more than 25 years first experiences : 80’sfirst experiences : 80’s (Volkswagen (Volkswagen, , Renault, Renault,

SKF, ...) SKF, ...) turning point 22/09/94turning point 22/09/94 art. 13 art. 13 (150 agreements) (150 agreements) and art 6. periodand art 6. period Now : Now : 22550 agreements, 0 agreements, ++60 % workforce 60 % workforce

covered, 70 ongoing negotiations, still 150 - 200 covered, 70 ongoing negotiations, still 150 - 200 to goto go

Total : 650 agreements, 12000 to 16000 Total : 650 agreements, 12000 to 16000 workers’ representatives involvedworkers’ representatives involved


2. EMF PRINCIPLES2. EMF PRINCIPLES European approach instead of national approachEuropean approach instead of national approach Strong co-ordinationStrong co-ordination

- binding guidelines negotiation process- binding guidelines negotiation process

- EMF Co-ordinators - EMF Co-ordinators

- Task Force : negotiators, trade union co-- Task Force : negotiators, trade union co-ordinators, guides for the existing EWCsordinators, guides for the existing EWCs

Initiate negotiationsInitiate negotiations EWCs and European company policy are now EWCs and European company policy are now

one of the three main items in EMF activitiesone of the three main items in EMF activities


3.3. EMF EWC TASK FORCEEMF EWC TASK FORCE 25 – 30 members (= experts, negotiators, trade 25 – 30 members (= experts, negotiators, trade

union coordinators = all in one person)union coordinators = all in one person) Started in 1994 with only a few participants, Started in 1994 with only a few participants,

annual increase of participation. Important : annual increase of participation. Important : always the same person ! Continuity !always the same person ! Continuity !

Countries : all EU cy’s (except : Irl., Gr.) + N, CZ, Countries : all EU cy’s (except : Irl., Gr.) + N, CZ, P, HP, H

5 two day meetings/year, English, Brussels + other5 two day meetings/year, English, Brussels + other No external financial support (except seminars)No external financial support (except seminars) Elected chairman + support of EMF secretariat Elected chairman + support of EMF secretariat


3.3. EMF EWC TASK FORCEEMF EWC TASK FORCE

Agenda : untill 1998 mainly ongoing negotiations,Agenda : untill 1998 mainly ongoing negotiations,

from 1999 : also support existing EWCsfrom 1999 : also support existing EWCs Ongoing negotiations : Ongoing negotiations :

.. Coordination start new procedures Coordination start new procedures

. Follow – up ongoing negotiations. Follow – up ongoing negotiations

. Decision on signing (or not signing) an agreement (see . Decision on signing (or not signing) an agreement (see guidelines)guidelines)


4.4. BINDING GUIDELINES BINDING GUIDELINES (= Eur. (= Eur. approach)approach)

No difference between Spanish, German or No difference between Spanish, German or Norwegian ‘negotiator’Norwegian ‘negotiator’

Each SNB, one ‘EMF expert’Each SNB, one ‘EMF expert’ Guarantees a minimum quality in all agreementsGuarantees a minimum quality in all agreements guidelines, approved by EMF Executive guidelines, approved by EMF Executive

Committee (11/96)Committee (11/96) Task Force decides in case of draft ‘under Task Force decides in case of draft ‘under

requirements of guidelines’requirements of guidelines’ Examples : Fiat, GE, ...Examples : Fiat, GE, ...


4.4. BINDING GUIDELINESBINDING GUIDELINESContent :Content : ProcedureProcedure Pre-meetingPre-meeting Simultaneous translationSimultaneous translation EMF expertEMF expert Exceptional circumstancesExceptional circumstances Steering committeeSteering committee Recommendations : C & E Europe, ...Recommendations : C & E Europe, ... ......


5. EMF EWC Co-ordinators5. EMF EWC Co-ordinators

Objective : EWCs should become real European Objective : EWCs should become real European information and consultation bodies, with trade information and consultation bodies, with trade union (EMF) influence, support and guidanceunion (EMF) influence, support and guidance

How : designating an EMF Co-ordinator for every How : designating an EMF Co-ordinator for every existing EWCexisting EWC


5. Role EMF EWC Co-ordinators5. Role EMF EWC Co-ordinators

Must know what happens in his/her EWCMust know what happens in his/her EWC First contact for other unionsFirst contact for other unions Support and guide for EWC membersSupport and guide for EWC members Safeguard the European approach of the EWC and Safeguard the European approach of the EWC and

the EMF policy towards existing EWCs, CB, IPthe EMF policy towards existing EWCs, CB, IP Role EWC in exceptional circumstancesRole EWC in exceptional circumstances Link between EWC(members) and EMFLink between EWC(members) and EMF



Role EMF :Role EMF : Assemble and support EMF co-ordinatorsAssemble and support EMF co-ordinators TrainingTraining Continuous flow of information on EMF Continuous flow of information on EMF

decisions, opinions and activitiesdecisions, opinions and activities



Benefit or value :Benefit or value : One (EMF) approach towards existing EWCsOne (EMF) approach towards existing EWCs Not only of use for EWC support, but also extra Not only of use for EWC support, but also extra

input for EMF sectoral activities, collective input for EMF sectoral activities, collective bargaining and industrial policybargaining and industrial policy

From a EWC Task Force to a Task Force on From a EWC Task Force to a Task Force on Company policy and EWCsCompany policy and EWCs

=>=> EMF Ambassadors in the 250 existing EWCs and EMF Ambassadors in the 250 existing EWCs and for the 5000 to 6000 individual membersfor the 5000 to 6000 individual members



Nomination of EWC Co-ordinatorsNomination of EWC Co-ordinators Objective : designation of an EMF Co-ordinator Objective : designation of an EMF Co-ordinator

for every EWCfor every EWC

To achieve all this : full support needed from every To achieve all this : full support needed from every EMF member unionEMF member union


6.6. OTHER ACTIVITIESOTHER ACTIVITIES Action plan Task Force till 2003Action plan Task Force till 2003 Sectoral conferences (steel, ICT, automotive, ...) Sectoral conferences (steel, ICT, automotive, ...)

Survey in cooperation with ETUISurvey in cooperation with ETUI Role EWCs (negotiation ?) and role vs. Trade Role EWCs (negotiation ?) and role vs. Trade

unions (see point 7)unions (see point 7) Revision of the directiveRevision of the directive European Company StatuteEuropean Company Statute DatabaseDatabase Role EWCs in case of restructuring, mergers, Role EWCs in case of restructuring, mergers,

acquisitionsacquisitions


6.6. OTHER ACTIVITIESOTHER ACTIVITIES

Global works councils (in cooperation with IMF)Global works councils (in cooperation with IMF) Trainers manual and training seminars Trainers manual and training seminars Cooperation with CB and IP committeeCooperation with CB and IP committee


7. ROLE EWCs vs. TRADE UNIONS7. ROLE EWCs vs. TRADE UNIONS

two - pillars at company level : employee pillar two - pillars at company level : employee pillar and trade union pillarand trade union pillar

employee - pillar : works council, betriebsrat, employee - pillar : works council, betriebsrat, conseil d’entreprise, ondernemingsraad, ….conseil d’entreprise, ondernemingsraad, ….

Trade union pillar : shop steward, vertreuensman, Trade union pillar : shop steward, vertreuensman, délégué syndical, kaderlid, militant, …délégué syndical, kaderlid, militant, …

in some countries : trade union pillar took over in some countries : trade union pillar took over role employee pillarrole employee pillar



at European level : structure of social dialogueat European level : structure of social dialogue

intersectoralintersectoral : UNICE vs. ETUC : UNICE vs. ETUC

sectoralsectoral : WEM, Eurofer,... vs. EMF : WEM, Eurofer,... vs. EMF

companycompany : European company managem. vs. … ? : European company managem. vs. … ? EWC ?EWC ?



- > missing link in the European structure of social - > missing link in the European structure of social dialogue : no legal trade union role at European dialogue : no legal trade union role at European company levelcompany level

Do we need a legal trade union role ?Do we need a legal trade union role ?

Yes, because not every EWC is as unionised as the Yes, because not every EWC is as unionised as the EWCs of GM, FORD, SIEMENS, … which are EWCs of GM, FORD, SIEMENS, … which are 100 % unionised and steered by the unions.100 % unionised and steered by the unions.



A legal trade union role at European company A legal trade union role at European company level and a clear (legal) understanding on the role level and a clear (legal) understanding on the role (and limits) of the EWCs must guarantee that the (and limits) of the EWCs must guarantee that the EWC (also these with only a few union members) EWC (also these with only a few union members) becomes not a council which also starts becomes not a council which also starts negotiations with management and in that way negotiations with management and in that way becomes a competitor for (national) legal trade becomes a competitor for (national) legal trade union rights. union rights.



EMF demands legal rights for trade unions at the EMF demands legal rights for trade unions at the European company levelEuropean company level

EWCs : partners, no competitorsEWCs : partners, no competitors Complementarity between tasks (and limits !) of Complementarity between tasks (and limits !) of

EWCs and trade unionsEWCs and trade unions

- EWCs : mainly (improved) information and - EWCs : mainly (improved) information and consultation rightsconsultation rights

- Trade union : collective bargaining on wages, - Trade union : collective bargaining on wages, working time (= classic trade union items)working time (= classic trade union items)

29 october 2001efbww1 an introduction for efbww 1. general introduction 2. emf principles 3. emf ewc...

Documents