Declaration by the CFE-CGC IS&T during the extraordinary meeting of the Works Council held on February 9, 2012
Hello Dear Sir, (IS&T) Human Resources Manager,
On the reading of the message sent by our CFE-CGC union representative in IS&T, […], it is evident that the time to study the files which you transmit to Trade Unions, but not only, also the time to carry out a professional and working mission, is not at all coherent.
You started consultations on a first project of staff cuts, putting in outlook employees' departures according to particular conditions. Then, without that Trade Unions are beforehand informed about it, you began (immediately) other outsourcing projects which were involving the same, and also others, employees. The various outsourcing projects collide with each others. Soon the Union Representatives will no more understand about what you are speaking during the meetings, and what could be said when you invent other projects following all those you have already started. It is absolutely not possible to assimilate correctly your projects and, the worst, to find solutions for all the concerned employees, and who will finally have no reasoned and reasonable solution. This, without speaking about the structural justification of these projects which, according to our opinion, are involving major risks for the Sectors.
We cannot continue longer working under such conditions.
The elected Representatives, as the staff affected by your projects of downsizing and of outsourcing, are not taken seriously in these conditions.
I ask you to put a brake on these processes of Information and\or Consultation and to return to a more healthy way of work.
I ask you to set up one or several meetings with the Union Representatives belonging to IS&T in order to reach an agreement about the methods and the schedule related to all the projects which you have to discuss. From now on, it is no more possible to work under these conditions, and we reject it.
Thank you for telling us what do you intend to do in order to soften and to hold the information and consultation meetings in accordance with the time required to study reasonably every subject. I think that the agreement of methods and schedule which I ask you is absolutely essential as a first step.
Cordially,
[…]
Union Representative in the Alstom national works council of France
President of the CFE-CGC “Inter-Center” in Alstom
Copy:
[…] President of the Metal industry Federation CFE-CGC
[…] General Secretary of the Metal industry Federation CFE-CGC
[…] Human Resources Manager of the Company
[…] Secretary of the Company national works council of France
Email
Sent on February 9, 2012
To : […]
Subject : Declaration by the CFE-CGC IS&T during the extraordinary meeting of the Works Council held on February 9, 2012
Important Email
Hello,
The CFE-CGC, its union branch in Alstom ISandT SAS (SSC, Simplified Stock Company), denounces the conditions of the trade-union representation as imposed by its Management. This is particularly reflected in the rate of the notifications for councils meetings to be hold with the Trade Union Representatives, and especially for “extraordinary” meetings of these councils: Works Council and CHSCT(Committee for Health and Safety at Work).
The extraordinary meetings concern numerous projects of reorganization and outsourcings led simultaneously and hastily by the Management:
After the plan of voluntary departure in France, there are now the project about the integration of the IT specialists from another entity of the Group (90 employees from Grid) and two other projects about outsourcing (40 employees and 52 employees).
Indeed, the Staff Representatives were invited to the following meetings:
In November 21st, 2011 Works Council - extraordinary - Plan of voluntary departure France
In December 13th, 2011 Monthly meeting with Union Representatives
In December 14th, 2011 Works Council - ordinary monthly meeting
In December 15th, 2011 Workers Representative Council - ordinary monthly meeting
In January 3rd, 2012 Works Council – extraordinary meeting - Integration Grid IST project
In January 5th, 2012 Works Council – extraordinary meeting - SKY project
In January 6th, 2012 Works Council – extraordinary meeting - TAGS project
In January 23rd, 2012 Monthly meeting with Union Representatives
In January 24th, 2012 Works Council - ordinary monthly meeting ½
In January 25th, 2012 Works Council - ordinary monthly meeting 2/2
In January 26th, 2012 Workers Representative Council - ordinary monthly meeting
In January 31st, 2012 CHSCT (Committee for Health and Safety at Work) – extraordinary meeting - SKY project
In February 1st, 2012 CHSCT – quarterly ordinary meeting
In February 2nd, 2012 Works Council – extraordinary meeting - Integration Grid IST project
In February 3rd, 2012 CHSCT – extraordinary meeting - TAGS project
In February 7th, 2012 Works Council – extraordinary meeting - SKY project
In February 9th, 2012 Works Council – extraordinary meeting - TAGS project
To these meetings, are added those of the various commissions, in particular the commission about the follow-up of the organization and the commission about the follow-up of the Plan of voluntary departure France, held every 15 days.
The Representatives would be also convened by the Management for the following meetings:
In February 14th, 2012 Monthly meeting with Union Representatives (and maybe NAO (Yearly Obligatory Negotiations concerning salaries, work time and work conditions)).
In February 15th, 2012 Works Council - ordinary monthly meeting
In February 16th, 2012 Monthly meeting with Union Representatives
In February 17th, 2012 Works Council – extraordinary meeting - Integration Grid IST (continuation) project
In February 20th, 2012 Works Council – extraordinary meeting - SKY project
In February 21st, 2012 Meeting with Union Representatives (negotiations “NAO”)
In February 23rd, 2012 CHSCT - extraordinary meeting - Integration Grid IST project.
Because of this intensification of the rhythm of the extraordinary meetings with the Staff Representatives, which are added to the ordinary meetings, the Works Council is put in an awkward situation to carry out its mission of Representation of the Staff, this mission is described in the Article 48 of the Agreement about the Union Rights and the Staff Representation, signed in 2006:
Extract of Article 48: missions of the Institution “Works Council”
The Works Council of the IT Company aims to provide a collective voicing of the employees, allowing that their interest are continuously taken into account through the decisions related to the management and to the economic and financial developments of the Company, to the work organization, to the professional training and to the techniques of production.
The CHSCT(Committee for Health and Safety at Work) also meets similar difficulties, as well as the other councils of the Staff Representation.
Indeed, because of these planning:
• The Staff Representatives have no more the time needed to fulfill their professional mission, so as to reach the objectives fixed in the beginning of financial year.
• The Staff Representatives are unable to spend a few “hours of delegation” in carrying out their mandate, in particular for meetings with the employees.
• The Staff Representatives located in the different provinces (ISandT’ specific feature) are not always in capacity to take part in the meetings which are always held in Paris, because of the geographical distance and of the entailed logistics (Transport, Accommodation).
• The Staff Representatives do not have enough time to study the documents provided the Management.
This situation, for which the Management is fully responsible, is strongly generating stress, both for the Employees and for their Representatives.
The CFE-CGC requests the Management to make the necessary arrangements so that the Staff Representatives have reasonable time to carry out their professional missions as well as their Staff Representative missions, in their own interest and in the interest of the Company and its Employees.
Cordially.
[…]
Union Representative CFE-CGC of the IT Subsidiary
Nota:
The Family name of recipients and senders has been replaced by […] to preserve their private life.
This is a translation from a French document.
