Record of the Meeting of the Nestl� European Council for Information and Consultation

Posted to the IUF website 12-Nov-2002

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A joint statement of Nestl� and the IUF records the proceedings of the 6 June 2002 meeting of the Nestl� European Council for Information and Consultation.

For employment trends in Nestl� Europe from 1999-2001, click here.

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Some observations that are not reflected in the jointly agreed minutes of the meeting:

1. The volume and detail of the information supplied by Nestl� at the meeting was considerable. However more information should be available prior to the meeting.

2. While the worker chairperson J�rg Lindner was able to outline the major concerns of the worker representatives, and many participants made pointed statements and targeted questions, there was no opportunity to explore issues in depth. Many delegates reported their disappointment that the summary statement by Mr. Olofsson largely repeated his prepared presentation, and did not respond to the concerns raised by the worker representatives.

3. Mr. Olofsson predicted the loss of 4000 more jobs in Nestl� Europe in 2002 through closure or sale, with only some 70% of these positions expected to be retained with another employer. Since the meeting, several more factory closures are under discussion in various countries. Worker representatives insist that prior consultation does not exist, and that information is provided only after such decisions are finalised. European-level consultation meetings such as the recent one on Nestl� Purina Petcare are useful tools for information, but do not provide for a genuine process of consultation.

4. We conclude that the meeting as currently structured is inadequate for structured dialogue and discussion. Since Mr. Olofsson also expressed dissatisfaction with the current structure of the NECIC, improving the functioning of the NECIC must be on the agenda for discussion this year. In the evaluation session, the NECIC worker delegates agreed to the proposal of EFFAT general secretary Harald Wiedenhofer to prepare a document setting forth ideas on improving the consultative function of the NECIC.

5. It is also necessary to reach agreement on the details of the full incorporation of delegates from the EU entry countries into the NECIC.