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“Axa’s revised agreement builds on the excellent practice of its European works council,” said Oliver Roethig, Head of UNI Finance, at the signing ceremony. “The new provisions and increased scope entrench Axa’s role as a leader in transnational industrial relations in Europe.”



“It provides a model for other companies in Europe, but also for social dialogue in a multinational company in other parts of the world.”



UNI Finance’s representatives on the Axa EWC are: Maurice Zylberberg, UNI’s multinationals facilitator (FdS-CFDT/France) and UNI expert on the EWC; Jean-Denis Dommergue, UNI’s EWC coordinator (FFSBSF-CGT/France). The chair of the workers’ side, the EWC secretary, is Daniel Vaulot (FdS-CFDT/France).



In more detail, provisions include the following:

• The agreement is based on the revised EWC directive of 2009. Any difficulties in connection with the EWC agreement shall be resolved by the institutions of the European Union (EU).

• The EWC, chaired by Axa’s CEO De Castris, comprises normally 50 workers’ representatives. It meets twice a year, including a preparatory and debriefing session of the workers only.

• Staff from a country with less than 150 employees are not represented on the EWC. However, they may select a EWC member to represent them indirectly. Such a member may meet with the respective staff twice yearly.

• The continuous work of the EWC is the responsibility of the secretariat, ten workers’ representatives elected by the workers’ side of the EWC. They meet with management on a monthly basis.

• A UNI representative, Maurice Zylberberg, has a seat in the EWC without the right to vote and can participate in all meetings, including of the secretariat.

• One of the secretariat’s members functions as an extra-European affairs officer looking after the link to Axa operations in other parts of the word.

• A EWC member may also be appointed to look after the integration of the least represented member states, particularly from Central and Eastern Europe. On an experimental basis, the Secretariat may also appoint a communications officer.

• Insofar necessary the workers’ side can be assisted by experts of its choice in preparing for specific issues to be addressed at a EWC meeting.

• When an acquisition or merger takes place with a large company that itself has a EWC, pending the establishment of a new body, the best solution suited to the circumstances will be sought.

• A meeting for training purposes is held annually with the EWC members and their substitutes from a particular country with the participation of the secretariat as well as management.

• During each four-year period of office, two two-day special training sessions will be organised for all EWC members and their substitutes to facilitate the work of the EWC.

To the agreement a document on social dialogue in Axa Group in Europe is annexed. It sets out principles on industrial relations and social dialogue, especially at local level, including:

• Axa Group as a whole is committed to standards such as the UNI Declaration of Human Rights and the ILO core labour standards.

• Within the scope of the EWC, Axa’s aim is to arrive at a social policy driven by both employee and company needs, one that is also mindful of trade union rights. Its policy is applied with respect to the decisions of the Council of Europe and EU’s Constitutional Charter of Fundamental Rights.

• Employee representatives are recognised as well as their freedoms right and functions.

• Compulsory redundancies should be avoided by all means.

• When projects are developed that could bring major changes and impact on jobs, local management is called to provide adequate information and maintain constructive dialogue. This is defined in separate phases: general orientation, drawing up an action plan, consulting about application and local implications, putting into practice and follow-up.

• Axa will develop a continuous learning culture for all staff.

• Management will ensure that each employee is fairly treated in matters of employment, work activity and compensation. Employees will not be discriminated against.

The Secretariat with management may review the enactment of the principles at any time, in particular with respect to the quality of social dialogue.





The EWC agreement covers over 79,000 employees in France, United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Ireland, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Greece, Poland, Iceland, Sweden, Slovakia, Hungary and Austria.