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To recall, the official request to set up an EWC at Transcom was made in March 2004 from Swedish and French unions. More than 4 years later an SNB meeting was held from 30 June to 2 July 2008 in Barcelona, Spain.



Previously management tried to save costs and keep the SNB meeting small in size. Then the legitimate composition of the SNB according to the structure and presence of the company in the EU member states was accepted.



Finally, 16 employee representatives from 16 countries, 5 HR managers supported by a lawyer and a communication expert from Oriordan Consulting as well as a representative from UNI europa met to negotiate the EWC agreement.



Everyone received a file with documents at the opening of the meeting, for instance with the relevant legislative texts in French or the draft EWC agreement in English. The content of the draft text was below the subsidiary requirements of the applying Luxembourg transposition.



Simultaneous interpretation was provided in German, French, Italian and Polish. The interpreters were sitting next door, following the meeting via cameras.



The group worked together in good faith aiming at reaching an agreement on how the Transcom dialogue should look like rather than establishing an EWC under subsidiary requirements. Working groups of employee representatives formulated amendments to the English text. Management worked out a counter proposal over night. After a general presentation of management's amendments on the second day, the SNB had hardly one hour to read, discuss and decide upon its position.



Management position was clear, you either sign or you are responsible for an EWC by law.



Eventually, the majority of SNB members (9) signed an agreement, 5 countries refused, 2 finally decided upon receipt of a translated document. The "Agreement for the establishment of the Transcom European Communication Forum" entered into force on 2 July 2008.



The EWC will be a joint body with a maximum of 30 employee representatives, meet once a year and have a select co-ordinating team that meets by conference call or video conference. A training course prior to the first EWC meeting might be possible. The duration of the agreement is four years with the possibility of amendments which become necessary as a result of relevant company changes.



Information about the company can be found here: http://www.transcom.com.