European Works Council

Why a European Works Council

The UniCredit European Works Council (EWC) is a governance body that ensures the right of information and consultation to Employees, abiding to the European Works Councils Directive that applies to all companies with 1,000 or more workers, and at least 150 Employees in each of two or more EU Member States.
Going beyond legal requirements and provisions, the UniCredit Group EWC is a pan-European assembly, constituted by Employee Representatives coming from all the Countries (European and non) where the Group is present.

The main role of the EWC is to:

• provide details, implications and information about the reasons behind management decisions at Group level
• develop a European corporate culture
• strengthen the integration of the Group as a whole

The EWC acts as facilitator within UniCredit, promoting the process of listening and understanding to the expectations and needs both on the Company side and on the Employees’, in order to achieve a sustainable business and work environment.

Cutting-edge lineup: the UniCredit European Works Council

The UEWC is one of the most extensive and complex among approximately 800 similar bodies existing today, also thanks to the number of Countries Involved and Employees represented.
The UEWC meets twice a year in Ordinary Meetings: official occasions held to share information and discuss current projects, prospects and topics of cross-country interest together with the Top Management.

Amid the UEWC, the Select Committee (SC), whose members are directly appointed by the UEWC picking among its representatives, serves as a point of contact for the Central Management, receiving information from and communicating with it on behalf of the UEWC.

The UEWC met for the first time on September, 19th 2007 at the Group Headquarters in Milan: six Ordinary Meetings took place so far, next to seventeen Select Committee meetings joined by the Management in eleven different occasions.

The Employees’ Representatives, going alongside with existing local labor dynamics, exercise the right of prompt and clear information and consultation on the Group’s current business situation, its future strategies and transnational initiatives that could have an outcome for the Employees. Throughout the year a relevant information feed is assured and timely provided to the Select Committee as soon as a relevant cross border projects/initiatives are officially approved and before any public disclosure without prejudice of legal market constrains/restrictions and confidentiality obligations. The Select Committee forwards then the information to all the other members.

UEWC Joint Declarations

As ascribed in the EWC Agreement, the Select Committee and the Central Management can agree to establish joint working groups on specific issues of common interest.

Two Joint Commissions for “Equal Opportunities and Non-Discrimination” and “Training, Learning and Professional Development” were set up during the Ordinary Meeting between the EWC and the Top Management on April, 8th 2008, respectively composed by 6 UEWC members, 6 HR Representatives and the technical Functions for each area within the Group.

As a main outcome of this shared effort, the Joint Declaration on “Training, Learning and Professional Development” and “Equal Opportunities and Non-Discrimination” were signed both by the UEWC Select Committee and the Group Central Management, respectively on December 2008 and May 2009.

Both these documents lead the way drawing guidelines and principles that, respecting the different cultural, social and historical backgrounds of each country where UniCredit is present, are meant to be a support to orient the daily activity.

The Joint Declaration on “Training, Learning and Professional Development” acts as point of reference for defining all the strategies, activities and initiatives in the fields of training and learning.

The Joint Declaration on “Equal Opportunities and Non-Discrimination”, aims at directing and supporting Group Corporate culture on such sensitive issues as Equal Opportunities, Non-Discrimination and Diversity, improving the sense of belonging and enhancing the quality of life at work.

For further information:

Cooperation Project

“European Works Council: Improving Cooperation to Strengthen Social Dialogue”, is the title of a project co-financed by the European Commission in 2008.

The project aimed at strengthening the UEWC role as a “bridge” between the Management and the Employees in order to build a corporate culture truly founded on Group’s and European values. The initiative actively involved both EWC members and the Human Resources Managers from 27 European Countries setting the framework for a common perspective.

The mutual experience gained by Employee Representatives and HR managers has added a significant value to the development of a culture of Social Dialogue within the Group, and has laid the foundations for an effective cooperation.

Phase 1 - First Group workshop on Industrial Relations and Social Dialogue
Phase 2 - UniCredit European Works Council: Improving Cooperation to Strengthen Social Dialogue

The UniCredit European Works Council is recognized as a best practice on a European level, a valuable player often invited to focus groups and workshops organized by Trade Unions or the European Commission. Being a multinational Company we share the results and accomplishments reached, the ongoing and future projects and our perspective on Social Dialogue and Industrial Relations dynamics.

Contacts

UniCredit Central Management Permanent Contact with UEWC

centralmanagement@unicreditgroup.eu 

UEWC Select Committee

EWC@unicreditgroup.eu