Many features of the home representation system are well known to shop stewards and workplace representatives. They are no
more in question and treated as a matter of fact. But in the moment when contacts with foreign representatives are
imminent, watching over the border becomes necessary. Furthermore new impulses could be usefull to the homey situation as
well, if one adopts the "best practices" of other countries.
The objective of the training is to become familiar with the work of workplace representatives in other countries. Not only
the labour law conditions, but - before all - the day by day practice and the cultural particularities of the relevant
country have to be considered.
We offer the training (duration 1 - 3 days) for two different target groups:
for national groups (e. g. British shop stewards),
willing to make themselves familiar with the model of other countries like Germany, France or Spain. In this case the
training will be held without interpreters in the mother language of the participants. Our team is able to train in
English, French, German and Spanish.
for multinational groups (e. g. whole EWC bodies)
In this case the models of several selected EU member states will be presented, beneath them the particularities of the
German codetermination system. Trainings for multinational groups are usually translated simultaneously.
The elaboration of the training contents takes place in small groups using the contrast-culture-method on concret tasks
and practical case studies. Thus the proceeding of a German works council will not be illuminated by the German
participants but for instance by British shop stewards. On the other hand the German participants are for instance
responsible to present the work of a French representative committee etc. This method makes aware the country-specific
particularities and key points to all participants involved, they understand very quick which questions will arise by
cooperating with foreign collegues.
Possible questions of the training, each referring to a particular country:
What role works council and trade unions play within the plant?
Which consultation rights they are entiteled for?
Who is the negotiation partner of the employer? Is there a peace obligation?
Which resources (office facilities, funds, time off) are given to the representatives?
Which attitude and behaviour employers and managers show towards the
representatives?
Which possibilities of action the workplace representation disposes in concret issues of
the plants daily live, e. g. dismissals, new management philosophies or flexible working
hours?
What role trade union officials and experts play in the workplace representation?
What importance has the supervisory or administrative board of the company to the
representatives?
Are there company-wide, national combine committees of workplace representatives?
How could their work being linked up with the European Works Council?
Our trainers know the cultural particularities of a multitude of EU member states out of practice. We offer this training
for the new EU countries in middle and eastern Europe as well. Please speak to us about the selection of countries and the
details of a possible training.
Further topics for in-company trainings:
