Company policy and coordination of European Work Councils activities at European level is a key priority for EPSU. That’s the reason why, twice a year, an EPSU EWC coordinators network meeting is organized in Brussels. The meeting gathers national trade union representatives and EWC members as well as the EPSU staff responsible for company policy. This is a unique opportunity to exchange on their respective actions, priorities and issues they are faced with. This is also the right place to network and to report back on EWC activity outcomes.
The meeting started with a "tour de table" where participants were asked to present an update of the work they have done in their respective EWC or national trade union. Then, three main topics, which give a good picture of the discussion we have in such meetings, were discussed: national updates (news, company restructuring, etc.), EWC negotiation outcomes and EU developments on workers participation.
First, an EDF trade union representative gave a presentation on the EDF current economical situation with a special focus on the renewal of the hydroelectric concessions. He started his presentation with a background overview of the French energy market, the new French legislations and the worrying financial situation of EDF. Then, he addressed the European commission formal notice sent to the French government about the renewal of the hydroelectric concessions and its future impacts on EDF activities. Finally, he presented the trade union initiatives which have been carried out to denounce the EC formal notice. This was very interesting to better understand the role of an EWC in the company life and discuss about the future of the European energy sector.
Secondly, the final draft of the agreement on the social responsibility of ENGIE was presented. The French company has recently restructured its activities around 24 business units across the world with major consequences for the workforce. It was an opportunity for the EWC negotiating body to negotiate an agreement about social consequences of such a restructuration. The final draft hasn’t yet been signed and it is still under internal consultation for approval.
Then, the ETUI gave an update on the implementation of the EWC recast directive and on recent legal cases. A series of possible improvements in the framework of the revision process were discussed and an executive summary of the issues (legal cases) that have already been settled was presented.
Finally, before closing the meeting, EPSU staff expressed willingness to further discuss the role of EWC coordinators in the future. EPSU staff also presented the EPSU tax justice campaign with a focus on country-by-country reporting. Participants were invited to sign the EPSU petition for tax transparency and were invited to have further activities on this issue for the next EWC coordinators network meeting.
The meeting was held in Brussels on February 10th. For EPSU, Guillaume Durivaux, policy staff, and Jan Willem Goudriaan, General Secretary, took part. About fifteen participants from a large number of EU countries attended the meeting.
The next EPSU European Works Council Coordinators Network meeting will be held on the 4th of October 2016, in Brussels.
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