Agreement regarding European Works Council within the TeliaSonera Group (TeliaSonera EWC)
In accordance with the European Council’s directive 94/45/EC adopted on 22 September 1994 regarding the establishment of a European Works Council and pursuant to the European Works Council Act (SFS 1996:359), the parties to this agreement have agreed to establish a European Works Council, TeliaSonera EWC, for information and consultation in trans-national issues with the employees’ representatives at TeliaSonera AB (controlling company) and at companies within the EU / EEA area that are controlled by TeliaSonera AB.
The term controlling company is defined in § 9 of the European Works Council Act.
The terms controlling company and controlled company are also defined in the Council’s directive 94/45/EC and amendment 97/74/EC articles 2 and 3.
An agreement has been entered into between TeliaSonera AB and the employee representatives’ negotiating body on 22 June 2005 regarding the establishment of a European Works Council within the TeliaSonera Group.
1 April 2009 the following agreement has been entered into between TeliaSonera AB and TeliaSonera EWC.
1§ Purpose
TeliaSonera EWC shall be the employees’ body for information and consultation with the Group management on issues of a transnational nature. The company’s ambition is to inform TeliaSonera EWC at an early stage.
The parties are in agreement that TeliaSonera EWC’s work shall be characterised by versatility, openness and efficiency, with modern IT technology constituting a natural feature.
2 § Members of TeliaSonera EWC
The members of TeliaSonera EWC shall be appointed from among the permanent employees within the TeliaSonera Group in each country in the EEA area in accordance with national regulations and practice. TeliaSonera holds a positive view on that a member may be a trade union representative.
For each country with fewer than 2,500 employees, one member shall be appointed. For countries with more than 2,500 employees, two members shall be appointed. For the country in which the parent company has its registered office at the time this agreement is entered into, three members shall be appointed. In order for a member to be appointed, a minimum of 100 employees is required per country.
The mandate period shall be three years. Members who terminate their employment during the period shall also leave the works council. A deputy will be appointed for each member. In the absence of the member, the deputy will stand in.
The number of members in each country is set out in an Appendix to this agreement. The parties agree to that the Appendix may be updated in the event of changes in respect of the possibility to appoint representatives to the TeliaSonera EWC.
The Chairman of the TeliaSonera EWC shall also be the contact person for ongoing contacts with TeliaSonera AB.
3 § Rules of procedure of TeliaSonera EWC
The rules of procedure of the TeliaSonera EWC including its Internal Working Committee are set by the TeliaSonera EWC. According to the rules of procedure the EWC elects among its members a person to be chairman of the EWC. The Internal Working Committee consists of 4 members of which one is to be the Chairman. The Chairman of the TeliaSonera EWC is also the chairman of the Internal Working Committee.
TeliaSonera EWC may create temporary committees or working groups for certain meetings.
4 § TeliaSonera EWC’s duties
TeliaSonera AB shall give notification and shall provide the opportunity for consultation concerning issues of a transnational nature within the TeliaSonera Group. The following issues shall be brought up for discussion as required:
- the Group’s structure and strategy
- the Group’s economic and financial situation
- working environment
- the anticipated development in the Group’s business, production and sales
- the employment situation and its anticipated development
- investments
- significant organisational changes
- equal opportunities and diversity
- the introduction of new working methods or production processes including issues regarding in- and outsourcing
- production transfers including location of business
- mergers
- staff policies including competence development
- cutbacks or shutting down of companies, operations or significant parts thereof
- collective redundancies
Before each meeting, the EWC members shall receive a written notice to attend and an agenda for the meeting.
5 § TeliaSonera EWC meetings
TeliaSonera EWC will normally hold four meetings with TeliaSonera AB per calendar year and to one of these meetings invitations to attend are to be sent to all the deputy members. The time and place of meetings shall be determined by agreement between TeliaSonera EWC and TeliaSonera AB.
Unless otherwise agreed, the meetings shall be held in the offices of TeliaSonera AB in Stockholm. It being understood however that one meeting per year to be held in a country which is represented in the TeliaSonera EWC. The meetings are to be held in English and all written documentation to be in English. The parties are in agreement that the members must possess sufficient proficiency in English so that interpretation will not be necessary. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided during the meetings as necessary. Members and deputy members will be offered training in the English language as well as basic training in business economics. Training costs shall be paid and borne by the local employer.
In connection with the meetings between TeliaSonera EWC and TeliaSonera AB, TeliaSonera EWC shall have the possibility to hold an individual meeting immediately before or after the regular meetings.
If necessary, TeliaSonera EWC may be assisted by experts that they themselves appoint.
TeliaSonera AB shall be represented by representatives of the Group management.
TeliaSonera AB shall also appoint a contact person for ongoing contacts with TeliaSonera EWC.
6 § Costs for TeliaSonera EWC
TeliaSonera EWC’s budgeted costs for expert assistance, required translations and interpreters if necessary and conference premises as well as equipment required for this purpose shall be borne by the TeliaSonera Group.
Travel costs and accommodation costs for EWC members when participating in EWC meetings shall be borne by the TeliaSonera Group.
All other costs such as salary, daily allowances and costs for international phone calls shall be borne by the local employer. The members of TeliaSonera EWC are entitled to use reasonable time of their working hours for preparations in connection with the EWC meetings and the Internal Working Committee meetings.
7 § Protection for employee representatives
When carrying out their duties in accordance with this agreement, the members of TeliaSonera EWC shall enjoy the same protection and guarantees as held by the employees’ representatives in accordance with applicable agreements, national legislation or practice in the country in which they are employed.
8 § Obligation to observe secrecy
Members and deputy members of the TeliaSonera EWC and other participants may have imposed on them an obligation to observe secrecy regarding matters where TeliaSonera AB judges this to be in the company’s best interests. This obligation will however not impair the member’s dialogue with his/her local trade union board which will be bound by the same obligation as the member.
9 § Applicable legislation and disputes
This agreement has been prepared in Swedish and English as well as the relevant local languages. The interpretation and application of this agreement shall be subject to Swedish law, and any disputes relating to the agreement and its application shall be referred to the Swedish courts. When interpreting of the content of this agreement, the Swedish text shall have precedence in all respects.
10 § Validity period
This agreement shall apply from 1 April 2009 and until further notice, with a mutual period of notice of six months. The agreement may be changed during the validity period if this is agreed upon between the parties.
Stockholm 1 April 2009
For TeliaSonera AB For the employees’ negotiating body
Lars Nyberg Elof Isaksson
Karin Eliasson
Appendix to Agreement regarding European Works Council within the TeliaSonera Group (TeliaSonera EWC) 1 April 2009
The parties have agreed on the following number of members from each country in accordance with § 3 in the Agreement
Country Number of members
Sweden 3
Finland 2
Lithuania 1
Estonia 1
Denmark 1
Norway 1
Total number of members 9
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