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The Members of the Special Negotiating Body will sign the EWC agreement for the French-Belgian company GdF-Suez today 6 May in Paris. The SNB reached agreement with management 7 April.
Following the merger of GDF and SUEZ, the European Works Councils (EWC) of both companies agreed to negotiate a new EWC agreement basing itself on the experience of both EWCs.
The negotiations took a good 7 months to complete. The result takes account of the changes to the EWC Directive and set a benchmark for other companies and EWCs. Noteworthy are the issues considered transnational, the scope of the companies and the manner of consultation of the EWC.
The new GDF SUEZ EWC will be composed of 65 members plus two guests from European industry federations. The EWC will meet twice a year. A select committee of 14 members meets once a month. Six permanent working groups will be established for 3 social domains and 3 activity domains. These working groups will meet twice a year. Just like the EWC they can invite experts. It also lays down a number of resources for the EWC such as use of experts, training (5 days a year), administrative support and an own budget of 80,000 euros a year with all costs for EWC meetings being carried by the company.
EPSU’s Deputy General Secretary participated in the negotiations and will sign the agreement together with the SNB members. The agreement will be considered by the EPSU EWC Coordinators meeting 13 May.
Press release of the SNB:
Press release from the trade union signatories of the GDF SUEZ European
Works Council Agreement on 6 May in Paris.
Following the merger of GDF and SUEZ, the European Works Councils (EWC) of
both companies agreed on a procedure to renegotiate and integrate their existing
EWC agreements. Since then, trade union representatives from countries where
GDF SUEZ operates, supported by a representative from the European EPSU and
EMCEF industry federations, have negotiated with management. The resulting
agreement is a benchmark for most EWCs. In particular, the definition of
transnational issues within the purview of the EWC, its consolidation scope, and the
way in which the EWC will be consulted are exemplary.
The new GDF SUEZ EWC agreement also considers transnational issues to be
questions concerning a subsidiary located outside France falling within the scope of a
decision of the dominant company, or which are a direct consequence of one of the
strategies of the Group.
In addition, companies in which GDF SUEZ holds only between 10 and 50% of the
shares, with a special position within the Group, can be represented in the EWC by
an observer or additional members. This arrangement will give the Spanish company
Agbar two additional EWC representatives.
Consultation with the EWC is understood to mean the establishment of dialogue and
an exchange of points of view between employee representatives and Management,
at a time, in a manner and with content to enable employee representatives to
express an opinion providing effectiveness, based on the information provided.
Consultation debates must be such that employee representatives can express their
opinion and Management can respond.
The new GDF SUEZ EWC will be composed of 65 members plus two guests from
European industry federations. The EWC will meet twice a year. A select committee
of 14 members meets once a month. Six permanent working groups will be
established for 3 social domains and 3 activity domains. These working groups will
meet twice a year. Just like the EWC they can invite experts.
The EWC can decide on its own expert appraisals, for which there is a budget of
80,000 euros a year.
GDF SUEZ EWC members have the right to training for 5 days per year. This training
can be provided by European industry federations and their affiliates. Additionally,
EWC members will be given language training by the company. Experience and skills
acquired throughout the EWC member's mandate can be recognised in their career
development.
This new EWC agreement also provides for continuity during future renegotiations
resulting from the group’s development. The GDF SUEZ EWC will continue to exist
on the basis of this agreement until a new agreement is signed.
After the adoption of the European directive on EWCs, this agreement brings new
energy to negotiating new rights and means in companies, for the EWCs at the heart
of social dialogue.
After the signature of this agreement on 6 May, EWC members will have to be
elected and appointed, as well as a secretary and the members of the select
committee. Internal rules of procedure will be established, and the new EWC
members shall come together in order to make the implementation of this EWC
agreement successful.
The text of this new EWC agreement was signed 6 May 2009 in Paris.
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