(1 March 2010) Romulad Jagodzinski discussed with the EPSU EWC Coordinators the revised EWC Directive. Discussions are ongoing in most EU countries on the transposition in national law. There are many important issues for trade unions and workers’ representatives at stake. This was underlined through the example of the consultation on the transposition of the Directive by the UK government. It even questions the ALREADY agreed definitions of information and consultation. UK unions but also (...)
European Economic and Social Committee, EESC, room VM3, rue Van Maerlant 2 - 1040 Brussels
You are herewith invited to the EPSU European Works Council Coordinators Network meeting on 25 February 2010. It will take place in the European Economic and Social Committee, EESC, room VM3, rue Van Maerlant 2, 1040 Brussels. The meeting starts at 9.00 and will end at 18.00. An area map is enclosed for information.
Interpretation has been requested to and from French, English, German, Italian, (...)
(3 February 2010) The plan is available at:
http://ovanrijswijk.posterous.com/eon-sociaal-plan Key points include that the company (EON) will:
Support workers in finding alternative employment. In principle at E.on: placement should be in a suitable position. If this is not possible, the employee will be guided and assisted as long as needed to find work elsewhere. When outsourcing of services, the new employer is to guarantee work for at least 5 years.
Income: Salaray and salary (...)
(Brussels, 29 January 2010) The European Commission is organizing a series of hearings on the reporting of environmental, social and governance information by companies. A workshop directed at trade unions was organized 28 January 2010. EPSU Deputy General Secretary presented the Joint Agreement with Eurelectric on Corporate Social Responsibility in which employers recognize that CSR is based on a positive attitude towards trade unions. A good CSR policy is based on active involvement of (...)
(21 January 2010) Absence of a decent social clause in public contracts remains a problem for thousands of waste workers in the European Union. That was the conclusion of a discussion between trade union representatives from SITA. SITA is the waste services division of Suez Environment, itself owned by GdfSuez. Also Adriaan Visser, CEO of SITA NEWS, the new organization which combines the activities of SITA in Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and Netherlands, stressed the importance of (...)
(10 January 2010) The new European works council directive will come into being in 2011. To assist trade unions negotiating a new EWC agreement or when revising an existing agreement, the European trade union federations have prepared a common position on the Directive that we expect will be useful for colleagues.
The New EWC Directive 2009/38/EC: Draft recommendations on negotiating during the transposition period
(from 5th June 2009 to 5th June 2011)
These recommendations do not replace (...)
(15 December 2009) Representatives of a large number of European Works Councils in the energy sector discussed the role of the EWC in corporate policies, corporate social responsibility and transnational agreements. Steve Thomas (PSIRU) presented an overview of the challenges faced by the companies. These include:
Dealing with reducing carbon-emissions. Many companies chose to invest in nuclear power;
Reducing high levels of debt after spending sprees. This will cause further (...)
14 December 2009, Brussels
(30 September 2009) The EPSU EWC coordinators group considered a number of texts on the procedures and mandates to arrive at transnational agreements. Large consensus was achieved and the way forward recommended to the Standing Committee Utilities. The text clarifies how EPSU and affiliated unions should proceed, decided and agree on transnational agreements which are an increasing issue in large multinational companies. It signifies a step forward in the coordination of Europe’s trade (...)
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