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Digital's "EIC Network": Much ado about nothing
After many years of open disregard for employee initiatives on the European
level, Digital Europe has recently introduced, with much fanfare, an
initiative for a pan-European "EIC network" of employee representatives.
In spite of the purpose of the "network" management hasn't involved any
employee representatives in developing the initiative. Digital is eager to
establish the "network" within the next few months.
With this move, Digital anticipates the EU Directive on European Works
Councils soon to come into effects, but violates essential provisions
at the same time.
Management's vision of a toothless, useless "EIC network"
The "network", on which Digital sees no need to negotiate, is no
more than a distribution list with one name per country. A
report from European management would then be sent to each
person on the list twice a year. No real information of the
European staff representatives would take place. Meetings are
not planned. There would be no consultation on business
decisions with serious consequences for staff and their jobs, as
called for by the EU Directive.
The greatest irony: An elected European Works Council with
delegates from nine countries has been in existence since early
1992. European management has categorically ignored it so far,
presumably because it has taken the representation of staff
interests seriously.
What the EU directive is calling for
The EU Directive on European works councils
in multinational concerns was passed in September 1994. It must
be implemented in national law in all EU member states by 1996.
Background of the EU directive: Employee representation and
consultation in Europe via works councils and unions takes place
mainly at the shop floor and local level. But because multinational
concerns have centralized decision-making in place employee
representatives can exert only limited influence on decisions with
impact on employees.
The EU directive therefore stipulates for
- negociations between management and employee representatives to set
up a European Workscouncil,
- regular information and consultation meetings on the European level,
- external advisory available for employee representatives.
The parties (companies and staff representatives) can
enter into voluntary agreements before 1996. These would then
remain valid after the conclusion of the legislative process.
This exception was created to preserve voluntary agreements,
which in most cases go beyond the EU Directive. Digital management
obviously sees this as a loophole to evade Europe-wide
representation of employee interests.
What is the benefit of a European Workscouncil for Digital employees?
Via a European Workscouncil based on an agreement with management
Digital employees have a chance
- to get real information about major reorganizations and downsizing,
- to influence decision-making and implementation in Digital Europe,
- to develop viable business alternatives to downsizing programs,
- to stop Digital becoming a company of only VPs and subcontractors.
In the interest of the company and of its employees, management of
Digital Europe should stick to the EU directive and should finally
start a social dialogue with the elected employee representatives
throughout Europe on the European level!
The workscouncils from Digital Austria, Digital Belgium, Digital
France, Digital Germany, Digital Holland, Digital Hungary, Digital
Italy and from DECTE Valbonne have rejected the EIC network proposal
as it is. But they recognize the fact that management of Digital
Europe is changing its attitude on European employee representation
and ask for urgent negotiations on that issue.
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