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The European Metalworkers’ Federation and

negotiations on European Company level

Bart Samyn

Deputy General Secretary

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EMF and Multinational companies & EWC’s

•Large amount of EWC’s: + 300

•Pioneering in guidance and trade union role: EMF coordinators

•First structures for S.E.’s, European companies

•Including of trade union coordination group

•Recognition trade union role

•Long standing tradition of “negotiations”

•Large amount of restructuring / mergers

•Inclusion of trade union coordination

•Experiments: GM, Ford, Arcelor, …

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EMF and Collective Bargaining

•Long standing tradition of coordination of collective bargaining

•Coordination rules for national collective bargaining

•Pro European level framework agreements, respecting and defending national level

•Pro European Industrial Relation System for the three levels: interprofessional, sectoral and company

•Delicate balance between European company level and national sectoral level

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EMF starts debate company level negotiations•Negotiations are trade union business, not EWC•Close cooperation with EWC•Principle of EMF signing agreements•Debate on definition agreements and negotiations <> consultation•Experiments: GM, Arcelor, PeugeotEMF practice becomes policy (Ex Com June 2006)

•Internal procedure for negotiations at MNO level•Valid for all negotiations (outcome is signed agreement)• Not limited to collective bargaining > also restructuring

•First cases: Areva, Schneider

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Step 1 information & start

•Written information to all trade unions (members of EMF) represented in MNC

Step 2 mandate for negotiations

•Mandate on case by case (no topic outline in internal procedure): trade unions decide.

•Mandate paper (what, outline, composition small and large negotiating (consultation) group, procedure, …)

•Mandatory for composition neg. group,

•mandatory for inclusion external EMF representative

•All negotiations (outcome is signed agreement)

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Step 2 mandate for negotiations

•Mandate given by trade unions involved (members)

•Preferably unanimous

•If not then with 2/3 majority in each country (following own practices and traditions: e.g.: Scandinavia on basis of membership figures, France on basis of mandates in company)

•One country can block decision to start negotiations unless they represent maximum 5% of employment in company

•Mandate is verified by EMF Secretariat on compliance with EMF policy guidelines.

•All negotiations (outcome is signed agreement)

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Step 3 Continuous general information

•Secretariat informs Executive Committee and the relevant Policy Committees (mainly Collective Bargaining and Company Policy, could include Industrial Policy Committee)

Step 4 Consultation & Decision

•Small group consults with complete negotiating / consultation team

•Draft agreement is approved by trade unions involved

•Decision with 2/3 majority in each country (following own practices and traditions)

•One country (whatever size of employment they represent) can block decision sign agreement

•All negotiations (outcome is signed agreement)

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Step 5 Signing and implementation of the agreement

•Agreement is signed by the GS, the DGS or another person specifically mandated by them

•All trade union involved shall implement the reached agreement in accordance to their national practices

•The signature on the agreement is valid for those trade unions at that moment represented in the company. (Mergers or acquisitions have to be renegotiated)

Step 6 Final Information

•Full information on the agreement and the signing shall be given to the executive committee and all relevant policy committees

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COMMISSION INITIATIVE ON TRANSNATIONAL SYSTEM OF COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS

Commission wish to create legal framework for European agreements

•What, how, who, when, ….

•Work programme social partners 2006-2010

•Now more or less limited to company level

•? EWC’s or trade unions

•Latest information: based on obstruction employers: put on small fire > long term

•IMPORTANCE TO SHOW THE CORRECT WAY

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STRUCTURE EMF CongressExecutive CommitteeSteering Committee

Secretariat

Collective Bargaining Policy Committee

Company PolicyCommittee

Industrial Policy Committee

Steel Industry

Defence Industry

Automobile

Aerospace

Shipbuilding

ICT

Training and Education WP

Eastern Europe WP

Women’s Committee

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Areva= A, B, F, D, Gr, H, Pl, Nl, Irl, I, E, UK, CH, Tr

France= 60%

D= 15%

B= 10%

Nl=4%

I=11%

2/3 in each country <> 2/3 in Europe