Documents De Spiegelaere, Stan 85 results

"This guide maps the discussion on working time reduction by examining the recent trends, the different reasons for implementing such a reduction, and the ways in which it can be organised. Illustrated with numerous real-life examples and insights from research, this guide is a valuable resource for anybody wishing to know more about the working time reduction debate.
The guide shows that there is no ‘one best way' of reducing working time. The design of the experiment should be adapted according to the purpose of the reduction. At the same time, it is clear that there is a great need for large-scale experimentation with organised working time reduction, as the current reduction through the proliferation of part-time work does not guarantee an equal redistribution of work nor does it promote gender equality."

"This guide maps the discussion on working time reduction by examining the recent trends, the different reasons for implementing such a reduction, and the ways in which it can be organised. Illustrated with numerous real-life examples and insights from research, this guide is a valuable resource for anybody wishing to know more about the working time reduction debate.
The guide shows that there is no ‘one best way' of reducing working time. The design of the experiment should be adapted according to the purpose of the reduction. At the same time, it is clear that there is a great need for large-scale experimentation with organised working time reduction, as the current reduction through the proliferation of part-time work does not guarantee an equal redistribution of work nor does it promote gender equality."

"This publication, that consists of unique survey data, gives an insight into the functioning of European Works councils (EWC) from the perspective of employee representatives. It presents the results of the largest survey of EWC representatives conducted to date. The survey documents the opinions on a wide range of topics of more than 1,600 employee representatives from all EU countries representing over 300 different EWCs and provides a graphical overview of some of the main results of the survey.

Many employee representatives in multinational companies lack basic information about corporate plans, restructuring and workplaces, and lack a dialogue with central management. Employees are left in the dark about financial and economic performance, the situation in other countries and what their own future is going to be. To counter this, and to guarantee the fundamental right of employees to be informed and consulted about things going on in their company, the European Union adopted legislation in 1994 on European Works Councils (EWCs) and, in 2001, on works councils in European Companies (SE works councils). EWCs and SEWCs provide a formal forum for social dialogue at (transnational) company level: they bring together employee representatives from different countries with the central management of a multinational company. Furthermore, they allow for employees to be informed and consulted about transnational issues in the company and, in turn, to influence corporate decision-making via the consultation process.

In this publication, we review survey evidence to answer such questions as: how are EWC performing? Are employees really informed and consulted? Do they get sufficient training? What can improve the functioning of EWCs? And are there any (positive or negative) evolutions over time? "

"Following the adoption of Council directive 94/45/EC (the EWC directive) more than 1,250 EWCs were established. This industrial relations institution was intended to ensure transnational information and consultation were available to worker representatives within MNCs that met the thresholds of the legislation. Initially the quality of information and consultation met neither standards required by the directive nor those specified in EU Charters and Treaties. In consequence, a recast directive (2009/38/EC) was adopted with the intention of remedying the shortcomings of the initial legislation. By means of survey evidence this book demonstrates that the recast directive has also failed to ensure EWC operations of the required standard. In particular, the timing and utility of information and consultation is inadequate with the result that most EWCs are institutions of information rather than information and consultation.

The book also shows that EWCs are contested institutions. BusinessEurope prefers voluntary rather than legislative solutions and, only when politically compelled, enters into meaningful negotiations on legislation with the objective of limiting the coverage of the measure and the obligations it imposes on management. Managers have also developed strategies to use EWCs to achieve corporate objectives. Consistent with these approaches European policy-makers have limited any legislative change to improve information and consultation even when research that they have commissioned illustrates the shortfalls. In contrast, trade unionists have campaigned for legislative change to ensure adequate standards of information and consultation, while also taking action to promote trade union involvement in EWCs, to articulate EWCs with other institutions of labour representation and to provide training to EWC representatives. This book traces how this contestation underpins the development of EWCs and assesses how this contestation is likely to impact the future development of EWCs."

"This UNI Europa research report illustrates the close association between collective bargaining on the one hand, and inequality on the other. The policy driven decline in collective bargaining coverage can be held partially responsible for the observed increase in inequality in many EU countries. If the European Union is serious about its social ambitions, it should adopt a policy of planned relevance regarding collective bargaining instead of continuing a policy of planned obsolescence."