Daniel Valtakari

Nokia Siemens NetworksThe Road to EWC

-Daniel Valtakari

Daniel Valtakari

Nokia Siemens Networks

– 19th July 2006– Nokia and Siemens announce the creation of

Nokia Siemens Networks– Amazed and worried reactions among the

employees in Europe– A workforce reduction is announced

– Germany 2 900 employees– Finland 1 700 employees– Also other countries are affected

• Total lay off 10-15% of head count in Europe

Daniel Valtakari

Nokia Siemens Networks - Finland

– July 2006– Finnish unions react immediately

– Union cooperation is set up in Finland– A union advicer is nominated to coordinate

cooperation in Finland and EU– Regular employee representative meetings

start in Finland• Nokia and Siemens representatives participate

together on the meetings

Daniel Valtakari

Nokia Siemens Networks - EMF

– 13 September 2006, Brussels– European Metalworkers Federation invites to

a grand meeting– Employee representatives– Union representatives– From different EU countries– Full EMF support on the cooperation– Next steps are discussed and decided upon

Daniel Valtakari

Nokia Siemens Networks

– NSN headquarters are in Finland ⇒– A Finnish trade union officer starts

coordinating– Building up cooperation between different

NSN countries in Europe (27)– A dialog with the NSN management is

started• A dialog is started first in Finland• The dialog is constructive

Daniel Valtakari

Nokia Siemens Networks

– A new meeting is held in February 2007– Stronger cooperation is needed

– More countries need to get involved– More information is needed– Direct goals are set up

• Less redundancies• An EWC agreement• etc

Daniel Valtakari

Nokia Siemens Networks

– 1st April 2007 Nokia Siemens Networksbegin operating as an independent company.

– Only Nokia Siemens Networks employeesparticipate in the meetings after 1st April.– In Finland– In EU

Daniel Valtakari

Nokia Siemens Networks

– The major countries need to deepenthe cooperation– Germany and Finland meet

• In April in Munich, Germany• In June in Helsinki, Finland

– A meeting with HR in Finland is included

• Germany and Finland represent over 20 000employees

Daniel Valtakari

Nokia Siemens Networks

– A meeting is held in May 2007– A decision is made to establish a European

Works Council (EWC)– A Draft Group is set up

– To draft a EWC agreement proposal– To prepare for a future negotiation– Four (4) countries begin working; Germany,

Finland, Italy and Belgium

Daniel Valtakari

Nokia Siemens Networks

– In June Nokia Siemens NetworksManagement sends an invitation tostart negotiation for an EWC agreement– The invitation is accepted– The Draft Group continues it’s work– The negotiations will be based on the

employee proposal

Daniel Valtakari

Nokia Siemens Networks - SNB

– Employee representatives ask fornegotiations for setting up a SNB– Special Negotiating Body– Negotiates the EWC agreement with the

Management– A proposal for the SNB composition is presented

– NSN Management accepts the SNBcomposition proposal without negotiations

Daniel Valtakari

Nokia Siemens Networks - NG

– SNB is set up in early November 2007– SNB accepts EWC agreement proposal– The Draft Group is dissolved– A Negotiating Group (NG) is established

– Germany– Finland– Italy– Austria

Daniel Valtakari

Nokia Siemens Networks - Proposal

– The Negotiating Group (NG) gives the EWCagreement proposal to the management inmid December

– Management begins to evaluate the proposal– Distractions

– Christmas time, New Year and holiday timesdelay the work

– Nokia Bochum and NSN dismissals in Finlandcause further delay

Daniel Valtakari

Nokia Siemens Networks

– EWC agreement ?– The proposal has been given– Management is evaluating the proposal– No final decision yet

Daniel Valtakari

Nokia Siemens Networks - Information

– Information procedures are critical– How to inform

• e-mail (best and less mistakes occur)• GSM for urgent needs• Meetings to make sure things are agreed upon

Daniel Valtakari

Nokia Siemens Networks - Information

– Information procedures are critical– Whom to inform

• All employee representatives from Nokia andSiemens, after 1.4.2007 only NSN repr.

• The Draft Group on a more frequent basis• The Unions• The Management about intentions and what is

planned• The EMF on all matters• Never in public media

Daniel Valtakari

Nokia Siemens Networks - Information

– Information procedures are critical– When to inform

• Always when something new and relevant hashappened

• If nothings has happened for a longer time• Always when somebody asks

Daniel Valtakari

Nokia Siemens Networks - Method

– The method used in the NSN case– Direct and official contact with the

management– Indirect and unofficial talks

• To inform in advance - No surprises• To feel the grounds - evaluate the response

Daniel Valtakari

Nokia Siemens Networks - Attitude

– Employee representatives attitude waspositive and grew better during theprocess

– NSN Managements attitude waspositive from the beginning

– Easy for all parties to meet and work– Mutual trust– Mutual aim

Daniel Valtakari

Nokia Siemens Networks

– Key figures– Former EWC representatives from Nokia and

Siemens - experienced people– Experienced advicer - Nokia EWC coordinator– Unions - The EMF and IG Metall– A Management representatives group

• A special contact person (Management) outside thegroup

• A contact for the coordinator and SNB chairman

Daniel Valtakari

Nokia Siemens Networks

– Work to be done– Negotiate an EWC agreement– Have SNB to accept it– Implement the agreement– Elect EWC representatives– Have a functional EWC