MINUTES EFFAT Management Committee

Transcription

1 Chairwoman: Malin Ackholt MINUTES EFFAT Management Committee Brussels, 28 February 2017 Working documents and participants list: Malin Ackholt opened the meeting and welcomed the participants. Kerstin Howald was excused for this meeting. 1. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA Doc: Draft agenda Decision: The Management Committee adopted the agenda. 2. MINUTES OF THE EFFAT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OF 28 NOVEMBER 2016 Doc: Minutes of the EFFAT Management Committee meeting of 28 November 2016 A correction has to be made to the minutes: Ermanno initially shared the meeting and Malin Ackholt shared the meeting after item 3a. Decision: The Management Committee took note of and approved the minutes taking into account the remark above. 3. MINUTES OF THE EFFAT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF NOVEMBER 2016 Doc: Minutes of the EFFAT Management Committee of November 2016 Decision: The Management Committee adopted the minutes of the Executive Committee of November ELECTION OF TRUMP NEW CHALLENGES FOR THE TRADE UNION MOVEMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY Speaker: Nick Allen, SEIU Nick Allen from the Service Employees International Union in US informed the members on the latest political developments in the US after the election of Trump and the effects on the labour movement. The members discussed and analysed the reasons why Trump had won the elections but also possible solutions to fight xenophobia and right wing, nationalistic populistic movements. The members agreed that we need to realign our resources and fight for democracy, social justice and equality. It was agreed to send out a solidarity message to the US trade unions as Trump plans to dismantle social protection and workers rights in America which could also have deep implications on Europe. 1

2 Discussion: Peter Schmidt, Enrico Somaglia, Arnd Spahn, Jan-Egil Pedersen, Pietro Ruffolo, Ermanno Bonaldo, Fabrizio Depascale. Decision: The Management Committee decided to support the trade unions in the United States. EFFAT will draw up a statement to show its solidarity. 5. EUROPEAN PILLAR ON SOCIAL RIGHTS Harald Wiedenhofer briefed the Management Committee on the new legislative initiatives of European Commission under the European pillar on social rights. Throughout 2016, the Commission discussed with national authorities, social partners, civil society and citizens on the content and role of the European Pillar of Social Rights. The consultation ran until 31 December 2016 and was wrapped up at a conference on 23 January The Commission s proposal on the European Pillar of Social Rights can be expected in March/April 2017 Decision: The Management Committee took note of and endorsed the report presented. 6. REVIEW POSTING OF WORKERS DIRECTIVE Doc: Update on the revision of the Posting of Workers Directive Speaker: Natalja Mickevica, legal advisor, ETUC Natalja Mickevica, ETUC updated the members on the revision of the Posting of Workers Directive and explained why ETUC is in general satisfied with the outcome of the draft report of the European parliament and the EMPL Committee. ETUC is continuing its work in the taskforce. The deadline for submitting amendments is 28 February The members were invited to take note of the priorities and to stress them during the discussions in the member states. She also updated the members on the new service card proposal. ETUC is working on a common statement. Discussion: Estelle Brentnall, Peter Schmidt, Pietro Ruffolo, Arnd Spahn, Ermanno Bonaldo. Decision: The Management Committee took note and endorsed the document presented and will continue to follow-up the revision closely and will keep the member organisations informed. 7. INTERNATIONAL TRADE (CETA, MERCOSUR, RUSSIAN BAN) Doc: International trade (CETA, Mercosur, Russian ban) Estelle presented a joint briefing from the ETUF s on the CETA concerning common concerns on CETA. CETA was approved by the European Parliament last 15 February. CETA needs now to be ratified by national and regional parliaments. More than 100 French MPs decided on 21 February to appeal to the country s Constitutional Council to block CETA. 2

3 The TTIP agreement, although "frozen", is not yet dead. Russian ban and the European Globalisation fund: The European Parliament has submitted a resolution on the mid-term review of the fund. We are awaiting the European Commission position; The European Commission will start drafting a proposal for a new regulation next year. We will need to put pressure on Member States. At the end of the day it will be a decision at Council level and we will need to persuade the Member States to have a full and substantial review of the fund to accommodate Brexit etc. Pietro Ruffolo was asking EFFAT to take a clear position on CETA and to monitor closely the impact of CETA. Discussion: Pietro Ruffolo, Peter Schmidt. Decision: The Management Committee took note of the reports and endorsed the documents presented. 8. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ETUC PAY RISE CAMPAIGN Maddalena Colombi explained the aims and the functioning of the ETUC Pay rise campaign. Anyone who has contributions, stories, testimonies to this campaign can contact Maddalena. The members also discussed the importance of national collective bargaining, social dialogue the use of EWC s. It was agreed to send more facts to have right arguments for a pay rise and to try to get EWC s on board. An update would be presented at the next EFFAT Executive committee meeting and members were asked to share their successful collective agreements and news on national implementations. Discussion: Peter Schmidt, Fabrizio Depascale, Enrico Somaglia. Decision: The Management Committee takes note of and endorsed the campaign presented. 9. CONSULTATION ON THE CAP REFORM EFFAT and its member organisations are seizing the opportunity provided by the current public European Commission consultation on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy to point out that the text neglects the role played by agricultural workers. EFFAT calls for a social reform of the CAP, which caters to the needs of workers in rural areas, enhancing employment and making agricultural work safer and healthier. The consultation can be accessed Arnd Spahn and Lisa Eberach explained the questionnaire and asked the members to use the answers that were suggested in the circular which was sent and which are targeting the most efficient results and focus on labour standards and jobs. Arnd called upon the member organisations to spread the questionnaire as much as possible and translate it into your own language in order to have at least 600 answers. The questionnaire will also be extended to the food sector. Discussion: Fabrizio Depascale, Pietro Ruffolo, Sebastian Serena Exposito, Estelle Brentnall, Holger Bartels Decision: The Management Committee took note of the questionnaire and the website and endorsed the report and the actions proposed. 3

4 10. PERMANENT STUDY GROUP ON FOOD SECURITY OF EESC Decision: The Management Committee will discuss this item during the next meeting. 11. EU TAXATION MATTERS Doc: EU taxation matters Enrico Somaglia presented a document with an update on taxation matters and briefed the members on the recent measures against tax avoidance at EU level. Decision: The Management Committee took note of the reports and endorsed the documents presented. 12. EFFAT ACTIVITIES IN SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE Speaker: Miodrag Bradonjic Miodrag Bradonjic reported about the activities and the set-up of the EFFAT/South Eastern European Council and its tasks which are exchange experience; to develop social dialogue; to establish trade union cooperation, to participate in the European projects. He briefed the members on the results of the last meetings and the request to set up the 8 th regions until the next EFFAT Congress. Miodrag Bradonjic thanked the Friedrich Ebert foundation as well as EFFAT for its support. Harald Wiedenhofer briefed the member organisations on the conflict in Macedonia between the national confederation SSM and four national Macedonian federations inclusive 2 EFFAT affiliates Agro-Sindikat and SUTKOZ. It was agreed to send a letter of support to the national Macedonian federations and it was agreed that EFFAT would continue to mediate in the Macedonian conflict. Discussion: Jan-Egil Pedersen, Harald Wiedenhofer. Decision: The Management Committee took note of and endorsed the report presented. 13. ROLE OF AFFILIATES IN EFFAT COMMUNICATION ACTIVITIES Doc: Role of affiliates in EFFAT communication activities Decision: The Management Committee will discuss this item during the next meeting. 14. DRAFT AGENDA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 3-4 MAY 2017 Doc: Draft EFFAT Executive Committee 3-4 May 2017 The agenda for the Executive Committee of 3-4 May 2017 was presented. Peter Schmidt proposed to put the political discussion regarding nationalistic and populistic movements on the agenda. Enrico Somaglia proposed to discuss again transnational solidarity in transnational companies. He also suggested enlarging the subject with concrete measures. 4

5 Decision: The Management Committee endorsed the draft agenda and the proposed amendment. 15. UPDATE ON OTHER EFFAT ACTIVITIES Doc: Update on other EFFAT activities A) Recast of the EWC directive proposal of the ETUF S Enrico Somaglia shared the highlights of the joint ETUF s position but pointed out that there is still a lot to be done. Enrico made a call for more support from our members and called to encourage EWC coordinators to do more. The secretariat is preparing a circular on how to increase the cooperation of EFFAT EWC Coordinators. Discussion: Peter Schmidt, Sebastian Serena Exposito. Decision: The Management Committee took note of the reports and endorsed the documents presented. 16. LIST OF MEETINGS 2017 Doc: List of meetings 2017 Harald Wiedenhofer presented the list of meetings. Decision: The Management Committee took note of and endorsed the list of meetings. 17. MEMBERSHIP AND AFFILIATION FEES ISSUES A) Overview of payments Doc: Overview of payments Harald Wiedenhofer presented the overview of fee payments ALPA and TEKGIDA IS paid the fees for The member organisations which are in arrears will be reminded again. Decision: The Management Committee took note of and endorsed the documents presented. B) New affiliations There were no new request for affiliation C) Disaffiliations/exemptions Doc: Exemptions/disaffiliations The secretariat received a demand for exemption from FICA UGT. Decision: The Management Committee took note of the reports and recommends to the EFFAT Executive Committee the exemption of payment of fees for FICA UGT for the year 2016 and the 50 % for the year

6 D) Affiliation fees to EFFAT and IUF for affiliates in CEE and SEE Doc: Affiliation fees to EFFAT and IUF of affiliates in CEE and SEE Harald Wiedenhofer explained the document enclosed in the report. Decision: The Management Committee took note of the reports and endorsed the common EFFAT/IUF proposal. 18. ANY OTHER BUSINESS Ermanno Bonaldo commented on point nine of the agenda. Right now, the CAP reform focuses on agriculture, the farmers and the employers. However, some changes have to be made. The CAP reform should cover the entire food system; include the workers; reward holdings and companies that create good jobs; highlight and promote the value of European food on international markets. Malin Ackholt thanked the participants of the Management committee meeting and closed the meeting. 6