ABB: European appendix to the group’s social policy signed with the EWC

National freedom in the implementation. Daniela Schiermeier, member of the EWC, said: “Given the circumstances, we are satisfied with the agreement, since the key element is its implementation at national level.” Globally, she insists on the fact that “ABB’s size is such that national needs varied a lot between the 21 countries represented within the EWC.” She added: “At first, we wanted supervised propositions, around social advantages for instance. Our Swedish colleagues were against it, on the grounds that the taxes they would have to pay in exchange were such that they weren’t interested. On the other hand, other countries wanted them. The same problem was raised by the work-life balance issue. Some countries said it didn’t matter, while others said it did. This appendix leaves the national social partners free to choose the solution they like.” Mrs. Schiermeier thinks that “each country has its own rules, notably concerning national works councils. Therefore, it should be national staff representation structures’ role to find national solutions. And they can do so with this appendix.” She declared that, on May 7, all national unions accepted to sign, except for one, which she kept silent, because she didn’t want to “point fingers.” She concluded: “The European appendix to ABB’s social policy is the first document for which the EMF’s internal rules on transnational bargaining were used. This was enlightening for all the parties involved.”