Directive is to improve the right to information and to consultation of employees in Community-scale undertakings and Community-scale groups of undertakings.The arrangements for informing and consulting employees shall be defined and implemented in such a way as to ensure their effectiveness and to enable the undertaking or group of undertakings to take decisions effectively. Matters shall be considered to be transnational where they concern the Community-scale undertaking or Community-scale group of undertakings as a whole, or at least two undertakings or establishments of the undertaking or group situated in two different Member States.Direttva è intesa a migliorare il diritto all’informazione e alla consultazione dei lavoratori nelle imprese e nei gruppi di imprese di dimensioni comunitarie. Le modalità di informazione e consultazione dei lavoratori sono definite e attuate in modo da garantirne l’efficacia e consentire un processo decisionale efficace nell’impresa o nel gruppo di imprese. Sono considerate questioni transnazionali quelle riguardanti l’impresa di dimensioni comunitarie o il gruppo di imprese di dimensioni comunitarie nel loro complesso o almeno due imprese o stabilimenti dell’impresa o del gruppo ubicati in due Stati membri diversi. Directiva tiene por objeto la mejora del derecho de información y consulta a los trabajadores en las empresas y grupos de empresas de dimensión comunitaria.Las modalidades de información y consulta a los trabajadores se definirán y aplicarán de modo que se garantice su efectividad y se permita una toma de decisiones eficaz de la empresa o del grupo de empresas.Se considerarán transnacionales las cuestiones que afectan al conjunto de la empresa o grupo de empresas de dimensión comunitaria o al menos a dos empresas o establecimientos de la empresa o del grupo situados en dos Estados miembros diferentes. Das Ziel dieser Richtlinie ist die Stärkung des Rechts auf Unterrichtung und Anhörung der Arbeitnehmer in gemeinschaftsweit operierenden Unternehmen und Unternehmensgruppen.Die Modalitäten der Unterrichtung und Anhörung der Arbeitnehmer werden so festgelegt und angewandt, dass ihre Wirksamkeit gewährleistet ist und eine effiziente Beschlussfassung des Unternehmens oder der Unternehmensgruppe ermöglicht wird. directive a pour objectif d’améliorer le droit à l’information et à la consultation des travailleurs dans les entreprises de dimension communautaire et les groupes d’entreprises de dimension communautaire. Les modalités d’information et de consultation des travailleurs sont définies et mises en œuvre de manière à en assurer l’effet utile et à permettre une prise de décision efficace de l’entreprise ou du groupe d’entreprises. Sont considérées comme transnationales les questions qui concernent l’ensemble de l’entreprise de dimension communautaire ou du groupe d’entreprises de dimension communautaire, ou au moins deux entreprises situés dans deux États membres différents.

1. European Transport Workers´ Federation
ETF EWC
The EWC recast directive
The ETF role in promoting EWCs
CWL SNB preparatory meeting
Brussels, 18 September 2012

2. European Transport Workers´ Federation
ETF EWC
What governs your activity, as EWC, at European
level?
Three key legal levels:
• The EWC Directive (from June 2011 onwards, Directive 2009/38/EC)
• The transposition of the EWC Directive into national legislation
(governs aspects such as the constitution of SNB; election or
nomination of SNB or EWC members; the legal basis for your
agreement, future case law; protection of EWC members at national
level; confidentiality)
• Your EWC agreement (supersedes the EWC Directive & the
transposition)
!!!!A good agreement is of chief importance!!!!
!!!!Knowledge of the EWC Directive & of your EWC agreement is
fundamental for all EWC members!!!!

3. European Transport Workers´ Federation
ETF EWC
What governs your activity, as an EWC member,
nationally?
As an EWC member, you should additionally be familiar with the
national (your country) transpositions of the following EU
Directives):
• Directive on national Information and Consultation rights (2002/14/EC)
• Directive on employees’ rights in case of transfer of undertakings
(2001/23/EC)
• Directive on collective redundancies (98/59/EC)
• Directive on mergers and takeovers (2005/19/EC, respectively
2004/25/EC)
• National laws concerning workers’ representation (see your national
labour codes)
!!!! You must know all these when working at national level – information,
negotiation in case of redundancies, setting up national representation
bodies!!!!

4. European Transport Workers´ Federation
ETF EWC
The new EWC directive (recast)
Improvements at several levels
• Establishment of a new EWC
• Content of agreement
• Operating an existing EWC – new rights
• Minimum standards for a EWC

5. European Transport Workers´ Federation
ETF EWC
The new EWC Directive – SNBs
New rules
• SNBs can be assisted by trade unions during negotiations (Art.
5.4)
• SNB has the right to meet without the management before &
after negotiations using the needed means of communication
(interpretation, translation of documents) (Art. 5.4)

6. European Transport Workers´ Federation
ETF EWC
The new EWC Directive – content of agreement
Where to look in the Directive:
• Art. 2.1 f - g, Recital 21 – 23 for the definition of information
and consultation;
• Recital 4 for the definition of ‘transnational’ (EWC competence)
• Art. 6 – the bulk of the content is dealt with here;
• Art. 10 – training & representation rights;
• Art. 13 – renegotiation in case of mergers & acquisitions;
• Annex I ‘Subsidiary requirements’ / your absolute minimum.
(Recitals – role to clarify the content of the Directive)

7. European Transport Workers´ Federation
ETF EWC
The new EWC Directive – content of agreement
EWC competence :
• Definition of ‘transnational’ – transnational character takes into
account both the scope of its potential effect (regardless on the
exact no of MS involved) & the level of management (the level the
decision was taken) (Art. 1 (3) & (4); Recital 16);
IMPORTANT: definitions are not up to negotiations!

8. European Transport Workers´ Federation
ETF EWC
The new EWC Directive – content of agreement
I&C procedures / general considerations:
• Definition of information and consultation (Art. 2.1 f - g,
Recital 21 – 23) / IMPORTANT: definitions are not up to
negotiations!;
• I&C procedures – when, how, what topics (the list of topics –
Annex I of the Directive);
• IMPORTANT: no dead-line for Consultation!!! Consultation starts
when the EWC considers the Information is complete!
Consultation – EWC develops an opinion (in a timely fashion –
Rec 14), communicates the opinion to the management,
management must give an answer and justification on the opinion
(Annex I, Art 1(a) para 2);

9. European Transport Workers´ Federation
ETF EWC
The new EWC Directive – content of agreement
I&C procedures / general considerations:
• Link national – EWC levels – EWC can receive the information
earlier or at the same time; the EWC agreement should provide
arrangements of linking the two levels (Art. 1.3. – 4; Art. 12;
Recital 15 – 16);
• Right to report back at national level – facilities must be
established to allow this (Art. 10.2)

10. European Transport Workers´ Federation
ETF EWC
The new EWC Directive – content of agreement
I&C procedures / emergency circumstances (Annex I, Art. 3):
• When – relocations, closures, collective redundancies;
• Who – Select Committee + EWC members from the affected
countries or the entire EWC;
• Management ‘s obligation : prepare a report; once the EWC has
issued an opinion, management has to give an answer &
justification;
• Structure of meetings: preparatory + plenary;

11. European Transport Workers´ Federation
ETF EWC
The new EWC Directive – content of agreement
Date of enforcement , duration & termination of agreement:
• When – how long your current agreement is valid for (ex: 4 years)
/ Directive: no obligation except for when the structure of the
company changes substantially (Art. 13);
• Procedure to give notice: by each side, how long in advance, by
vote, etc.;
• IMPORTANT: no deadlines to the renegotiation process!
IMPORTANT: right to function on the old agreement till the new
one is signed!

12. European Transport Workers´ Federation
ETF EWC
The new EWC Directive – content of agreement
Renegotiation in case of mergers and acquisitions (Art 13):
• When – significant changes in the company structure ;
• Procedure : central management to initiate negotiations or
request from 100 employees X 2 countries;
• Who negotiates: SNB of at least 3 members of each EWC, in
addition of the newly created SNB;
• Right to operate under the old agreement till a new one is
finalised (Art. 13).

13. European Transport Workers´ Federation
ETF EWC
The new EWC Directive – content of agreement
Others:
• Number of annual EWC meetings + Select Committee
meetings + training
• Specify the functions, composition, election procedure of the
Select Committee (Art. 6 (e)) / internal rules of procedure;
• Collective representation – EWC shall have the means required
to apply its rights (right to go to court & the means – financial,
legal personality, communication facilities) (Art. 10 (1));
• Right to training – SNBs and EWCs shall be provided with
training without loss of wages (Art. 10.4);

14. European Transport Workers´ Federation
ETF EWC
The new EWC Directive – minimum standards
Others (Annex I):
• Composition of the EWC – min 1 mandate per 10% workforce
per country ; IMPORTANT: no thresholds to condition
mandates!!!
• Select Committee of minimum 5 members ; IMPORTANT!
Ensure country balance in the EWC & in the Select Committee!
• Internal preparatory meetings;
• Financial and material resources ; IMPORTANT: right to site
visits!
• 1 paid expert
• Expert - UNI Europa!!!

15. European Transport Workers´ Federation
ETF EWC
EWCs – some facts and figures
In Europe, in all industries
• the estimated number of MC qualifying for an EWC is of 2,264
• the estimated number of MCs with an EWC in operation – 820
(34%)
• proportion of employees represented by EWCs: 64% (14.5
million)
• 125 EWCs have ceased to exist (mergers / takeovers, etc.)

16. European Transport Workers´ Federation
ETF EWC
Role and activities of ETUFs / supporting role or policy
making?
ETUFs - recognised employee representatives / social partners
• Setting up new EWCs (approaching the MCs, negotiation of
agreements, co-signing agreements)
• Coordination of existing EWCs (via trade union coordinator
appointed and approved by EIFs statutory bodies) in day-to-day
functioning as well as in exceptional circumstances (restructuring)
• Direct support to EWCs – specific legal or sector-related information;
training; etc.)
ETUFs – members of an informal ETUC EWC coordination group
whose main functions are:
• exchange of experience and good practice
• campaign for the improvement of legal framework (EWC Directive)
• future common database

17. European Transport Workers´ Federation
ETF EWC
EWCs in transport
At present:
• the estimated number of MC qualifying for an EWC – 80
• the estimated number of MCs with an EWC in operation – 20
(amongst these AF KLM, Arriva, BA, CEVA Logistics,
Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Post DHL, Dubai Ports World,
LSG Sky chefs, FedEx, Geodis Group, TNT, Transdev, TUI,
UPS, Veolia, Wincanton)
• in the pipeline: Avia Partner, DSV Logistics, WFS, Keolis
(SNCF)
• re-negotiation of agreements: LSG Sky Chefs, DP DHL
• pending requests (launched by one or more ETF affiliates):
Kuhne & Nagel

18. European Transport Workers´ Federation
ETF EWC
Useful links
Legal framework
• European Commission Labour law web-page
http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/labour_law/
• ETUC & trade union web-pages
– www.etui.org
– www.worker-participation.eu
– www.ewcdb.eu
– www.sda-asbl.org