Veolia Environnement: rider to EWC agreement introduces flexible exchange of views

Build from the 2005 agreement.  The initial agreement, which dates back to October 10, 2005, already contained innovative provisions. It stated,“The vocation of the Veolia Environnement European Works Council is to enable consultation around transnational issues that may eventually lead to joint statements or recommendations,” or even to “negotiate certain agreements in principle, commitment charters or joint resolutions on transnational issues, whose implementation depends on national laws and regulations.”  These statements are maintained in the new agreement, which completely replaces the previous one, however with clarifications for another provision: “the country’s Dialog Space.” The latter, defined as a “forum for dialogue, exchange of views and information between Management and employee representatives in the countries included in the scope of the Veolia Environnement European Works Council, notably on transversal topics,” in Member States where this social dialogue structure does not yet exist, is now better formalized. The new agreement clarifies its composition and notably provides that the structure will meet at least twice a year, or on an exceptional basis if events require it. It adds, “These meetings will be timed in order to fit in with the timetable of plenary sessions of the Veolia Environnement European Works Council, in order to prepare its debates on specific issues or subsequently ensure the dissemination of its work within social dialogue structures.”