Flextronics leads the way with new European Works Council

Flextronics is a globally operating company that specialises in the assembly of electronic components. Since March 2009 the company has a European Works Council in anticipation of the new European directive.  Chairman Ingo Pink above all notices this with regard to the consultations about the HR policy. 

Flextronics is an American company, with its head office in Singapore. It is active in a large number of EU member states. The initiative to set up a European Works Council dates back to 2005 and came from the Polish, German and French employees.

Initially the negotiations went smoothly, but temporarily became bogged down when the question arose under which country’s law the new European Works Council would function. Even if the management felt it was quite important to reach an agreement and not let it depend on the European safety net intervention, agreement could not be reached. 

When the special negotiation group called in the aid of Mariëlle van der Coelen (European Works Council Service), the deadlock was overcome. She pointed out that the management itself has formal authorisation in this matter and proposed that the negotiations focus on rights and powers, and in addition take the new European Works Council directive, which was still in its draft phase at the time, as the point of departure. Her proposal sat well with both parties and in March 2009 Flextronics had a European Works Council agreement. Ingo Pink from Austria was unanimously elected chairman.