Interview with B. Berentsen and P. Molenaar

After serving as the Coordinator of the EWC Service at FNV Formaat, Boudewijn Berentsen took leave on 01 December. He has been replaced by Petra Molenaar. An interview.

When Boudewijn Berentsen was asked by the FNV to set up an EWC Service in 1996 he started from scratch. Twelve years on the EWC Service has become a leading consultancy for European Works Councils, not only in the Netherlands but in other European countries as well. “It was definitely pioneer work in the first few years. The EWC phenomenon was relatively unknown at the time. There was no specific support for EWCs, either. We started at the initiative of the FNV. And throughout the years we have proven to meet major needs.”

With some nostalgia Boudewijn resigned from the position of Coordinator of the EWC Service on 01 December last and has become the Business Director of the Muziekgebouw at the IJ in Amsterdam. He admits that “that is something completely different. But music is my second passion, after worker participation. An opportunity presented itself to work in the field. And seeing that such an opportunity doesn’t arise very often, I said ‘Yes’”.

Petra Molenaar is Boudewijn’s successor. She is no newcomer to the EWC world. As trainer/advisor of the FNV Formaat’s ‘Team Metaal’ she came into quite regular contact with EWCs. Furthermore, seeing as she has an English teaching qualification, she has also been many times to train and advice EWCs.

Crisis
Petra is immediately starting in the thick of it because the repercussions of the economic crises are currently keeping EWCs extremely busy. “A lot of decisions regarding collective redundancies are often taken for the whole undertaking. The EWCs have to be involved in the plans at as early a stage as possible so as to still be able to exert some influence. Because the question is whether all these redundancies are necessary. I have noticed that companies are reacting to the crisis very differently. Some companies lay off thousands of workers immediately, whilst others prefer to wait a little”, Petra pointed out.

Boudewijn believes that the time when representatives from the different countries acted in their own self-interest in EWCs and at moments of significant changes are long gone. “Most EWC members also see that it makes little sense to just stand for the interests of the company site in their own countries. Because a company closure in one country could in turn affect their own country. Most EWC members are well capable of gauging far-reaching plans at the level of the undertaking.

“As guides we also play an important role in encouraging this feeling of community in an EWC”, Petra went on to say, “It’s our added value that we, people outside the EWC, can forge an alliance with all the differences between the representatives from the different countries in terms of culture, interests and traditions. It’s all about the collective. In the Netherlands we are inclined to think that there’s relatively good worker participation in Europe. In our country there’s far more dialogue than in some other countries. But the question is whether that leads to more worker participation. I sometimes am quite envious of the refreshing way in which the French ad the Brits operate in terms of worker participation. They voice their opinions and demands in a heftier manner and are more prepared to take to the streets to be heard.

Reaching maturity
According to Boudewijn clear progress has been made towards European worker participation in the 12 years that he has been working in the EWC Service. But he finds the question whether the EWC has matured difficult to answer. “There are some EWCs that have certainly reached maturity. But there is a sizeable amount in the middle who still have to work at delivering the goods. In practice the quality of the EWC does indeed often depend on one or two people who can shepherd things along. In addition, the management in the company concerned has an bearing on the EWC’s quality. If management recognises the added value of European worker participation then you’re in a better position as an EWC.

Directive
In Boudewijn’s view legislation on European worker participation is important but not the be all and end all. “In all these years I’ve noticed that the rules on European worker participation are relative. In the end it’s about the EWC’s acquiring its rights in practice.” Shortly after his departure the European Parliament approved the revision of the EWC Directive. Petra: “Unfortunately the final result’s a little disappointing. At the beginning of 2008 the expectations about the European Commission’s plans were still high. But several parties put the European Commission under pressure and now we have a recast Directive that’s only an improvement on certain points. The concepts of information and consultation have been better defined and it’s now clearer that an issue is transnational when a decision in one country affects a site in another country. But previous plans to introduce sanctions and to extend facilities for EWCs are missing. That’s a pity. It’s a missed opportunity.”

Beer
Boudwijn subscribes to Petra’s words. But he will not be able to experience the practical consequences of this given his new job. He will miss European worker participation though. “It’s meant everything to me these years. And what will I miss the most? Having a beer with the UK representatives after an EWC meeting. They’re pleasant people to work with because they’re good at putting things in perspective.”