After 3 years negotiations, EFFAT and the Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) signed a long awaited agreement establishing a European Works Council.
Operating in 12 European countries and employing 23000 workers the company is the biggest Coca-Cola bottler globally in terms of revenue.
The agreement, which is the outcome of 16 meetings between the Special Negotiating Bodies (SNBs) and the Management features the following:
- 2 plenary meetings and 3 Select Committee meetings per year
- UK representatives included within the scope of the agreement after Brexit
- Definition of transnational matters to include potential impacts
- A consultation process in case of exceptional circumstances envisaging three different scenarios
- 1 permanent Expert plus 1 EFFAT Coordinator attending all meetings including exceptional ones
- Training and time off
Commenting on the newly signed agreement, EFFAT General Secretary Kristjan Bragason said: ‘The negotiation of this agreement has been a long and difficult process. But now we have a structure that will ensure workers’ information and consultation rights will be respected. At the same time we do not forget that ever since the CCEP merger in 2016, our affiliates have had to deal with continuous attacks on jobs and increasing demand of flexibility. There is a lot of work to do but I am confident this newly created body will represent a positive development for all workers in CCEP ‘.
The EWC designation process is currently ongoing in the various countries. The first EWC meeting is foreseen for the end of March in Heathrow.
