In September 2019 IR Share worked with the special negotiating group set up by the Ramsay Santé group to train the negotiators.
A few years later, we had the pleasure of returning to them to train the first members of the European Works Council, which had just been set up (June 2024). And given the quality of the agreement, it was a double satisfaction: having trained negotiators who achieved a good result, and having retained their confidence so that they called on us for the Training for EWC/SE Special Negotiating Body of the European Works Council! We were also involved in training the members of the Kohler and AIG Special Negotiating Body.
Why This Training Matters
Establishing a European Works Council (EWC) or a SE Works Council is a pivotal step in fostering effective cross-border communication within multinational companies.
Navigating the intricacies of negotiations requires a deep understanding of diverse cultural, legal, and organizational landscapes. Our specialized training equips Special Negotiating Bodies (SNBs) with the essential skills and strategic insights needed to navigate these complexities with confidence and precision.
By participating in our Training for EWC/SE Special Negotiating Bodies, SNBs will gain the tools necessary to engage in meaningful dialogue and craft agreements that reflect the diverse interests and legal frameworks of all parties involved.
Who It’s For
This training is ideal for:
What the Training Covers
Each training is customized to the group’s background and needs, but key themes always include:
Understanding Industrial Relations Across Europe
- National models of representation: co-determination, union dominance, etc.
- How cultural differences shape expectations and behaviors
Navigating the Legal Framework
- Core principles of the EWC and SE Directives
- Rights and obligations under European law
Mastering the Directive’s Provisions for Negotiation
- Composition, duration, rules of procedure for SNBs
- Timelines and requirements during the negotiation phase
Building a Solid Agreement
- What makes a good agreement (scope, information and consultation, meetings, etc.)
- Customizing agreements to company structures and needs
Negotiation Skills and Strategies
- Decision-making processes within SNBs
- Tactics for constructive dialogue and reaching consensus
- Dealing with power imbalances and difficult negotiations
Learning Objectives
By the end of the training, participants will:
Accessibility
Understand how national industrial relations cultures influence the negotiation process
Know
The legal framework of EWC/SE Directive and its negotiation provisions
Be equipped
To draft and negotiate effective and compliant agreements
Gain
Tools and strategies for meaningful, structured negotiation
Trainers profiles
Frédéric Turlan
Director, Editor of IR Notes
Frédéric is an expert in industrial relations. He has an extensive experience of writing and editing industrial relations and labour law material for a practitioner and policymaker audience.
He has written numerous reports, comparative studies and analyses for Eurofound, as national correspondent for France, and for other research centres across Europe on industrial relations and working conditions issues. He also organised numerous in-house training for European Works’ Councils on EU labour law, industrial relations and other relevant issues for EWCs and transnational social dialogue.
Christophe Teissier
Project manager, Ultra Laborans
Christophe trained as a lawyer and worked for the French Ministry of Research. In 2007, he joined Astrées (which became Ultra Laborans in 2023) to work on developments in social dialogue. Since then, he has been working on reinventing deliberative processes in companies, with a view to better tackling today’s major societal challenges. He heads up Ultra Laborans’ social dialogue expertise and European projects. In this capacity, he has developed recognised expertise at European level on issues relating to social dialogue and its players. He has been involved on numerous occasions in training members of European Works Councils in various sectors, notably alongside IR SHARE. Recently, he trained the EWCs of Veolia (2023), Suez (2023), BNP Paribas (2022), Generali (2021) and SCOR (2021).
Jean-Philippe Lhernould
Professor of law at the University of Poitiers
Jean-Philippe Lhernould is a professor of law at the University of Poitiers, specialising in European social law. He has worked for many years for the European institutions (European Commission, European Parliament, European Labour Authority), in particular as a pre-legislative expert. In addition to his academic activities, he works as a lawyer for law firms and international groups in the field of European employment law (EWCs, international restructuring, international employment contracts, etc.); he is also a well-known trainer for various audiences, including social partners, at national and European level.
