In May 2012, social elections were held in Belgium to choose employee representatives for works councils and workplace health and safety committees. The elections are held every four years, and figures show the majority of employees voted, with the turnout being more than 70%. The results were broadly the same as in the social elections in 2008, with around 50% voting for the Christian Trade Union, one third for the Socialist Trade Union and 11% for the Liberal Trade Union.
Background
In Belgium, elections held by a company’s employees to elect members of the works council and the workplace health and safety committee are traditionally referred to as ‘social elections’. All private sector companies employing more than 100 employees are legally obliged to set up a works council and workplace health and safety committee, while enterprises with between 50 and 100 workers only have to establish a health and safety committee.
The elections are held every four years and are regulated by very detailed legislation. Important features include separate electoral bodies for blue collar workers, white collar workers and ‘kaderleden/cadres’ – professional and managerial staff – while employees classed as senior executives are excluded from taking part.
Health and safety committee elections
The workplace health and safety committee, elected in smaller companies, is a joint committee of employee and employer representatives. It provides advice and formulates proposals to improve the welfare of the employees and to prevent occupational accidents and diseases.
Candidates are nominated by one of three trade union federations; the Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (ACV/CSC), the Belgian General Federation of Labour (ABVV/ FGTB) and the Federation of Liberal Trade Unions of Belgium (ACLVB/CGSLB).
The social elections for health and safety committees were held in 6,800 enterprises. Together, these companies employ 1,679,400 workers. Of these, 883,976 participated at the elections, an average turnout of 71.9%, similar to the participation rate in 2008 (72.5%). The participation rate is higher among blue collar workers (81.7%) than among white collar workers (66.1%). Since this average is calculated on the potential turnout for all elections, and elections cannot be held in some enterprises due to a lack of suitable candidates, the actual participation rate is even higher than these figures suggest.
Social elections for workplace health and safety committee s, 2008–2012
| | 2008 | 2012 |
| | Votes | Seats | Votes | Seats |
| ACV/CSC | 53.4% | 59.5% | 52.3% | 58.5% |
| ABVV/FGTB | 36.7% | 34.4% | 36.4% | 34.1% |
| ACLVB/CGSLB | 9.8% | 6.2% | 11.3% | 7.5% |
Results for 2012 are based on 91% of the concerned enterprises
Source: Federal Public Service Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue
The results show that the ACV/CSC remains the largest trade union with 52.3% of the vote, ahead of the ABVV/FGTB (36.4%) and the ACLVB/CGSLB (11.3%). However, compared to 2008, there is a slight shift from ACV/CSC and ABVV/FGTB to ACLVB/CGSLB.
Works council elections
Enterprises with an average of 100 employees or more have to set up a works council, a joint consultative body of employee and employer representatives. The works council is involved in the social, economic and financial policy of the enterprise.
Candidates are nominated in a similar way to the health and safety committees, with lists coming from the ACV/CSC, the ABVV/FGTB, and the ACLB/CGSLB.
However, the candidates representing ‘cadres’ – professional and managerial staff – are selected differently. They may be chosen in one of three ways: from lists of people drawn up by the organisation and regarded as representative of staff members; on lists made by the National Confederation of Managerial Staff (NCK/CNC); or on so-called house-lists, made by staff members in the enterprise itself.
Works council elections were held in 3,600 enterprises. Together, these companies employ 1,462,400 people. Of them, 799,705 participated at the elections, a turnout of 70.2%, the same level as in 2008 (70.7%). The participation rate is higher among blue collar workers (80.7%) than among white collar workers (67.9%).
Social elections for works councils, 2008–2012
| | 2008 | 2012 |
| | Votes | Seats | Votes | Seats |
| ACV/CSC | 52.5% | 57.0% | 51.7% | 55.8% |
| ABVV/FGTB | 36.2% | 34.8% | 35.5% | 34.5% |
| ACLVB/CGSLB | 9.7% | 6.6% | 11.3% | 8.0% |
| NCK/CNC | 1.1% | 1.0% | 1.0% | 0.8% |
| House lists | 0.5% | 0.8% | 0.5% | 0.8% |
Results for 2012 are based on 91% of the concerned enterprises
Source: Federal Public Service Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue
The results are comparable with the elections for the workplace health and safety committees, and the ACV/CSC remains the trade union with the most seats, with 51.7% of the votes, ahead of the ABVV/FGTB (35.5%) and the ACLVB/CGSLB (11.3%). However, compared to 2008, there is a slight shift from ACV/CSC and ABVV/FGTB to ACLVB/CGSLB.
Reaction of the trade unions
The ACV/CSC was pleased with the high turnout rates and with the good results of its own candidates. Like the ACV/CSC, the ABVV/FGTB emphasised the relevance of high participation rates, which they say proves that employees attach great importance to their representatives in social consultative bodies.
The ABVV/FGTB said that the strong results of the Confederation of Christian Trade Unions had to be put into perspective given that social elections were held in the private sector, which included a demographic that had a strong Catholic tradition. Comparable public institutions, such as schools, are not covered by these social election procedures. The ACLVB/CGSLB emphasised that its share of the vote had risen above 10% for the first time.
Commentary
The 70% participation rate in social elections is very high, especially as voting is not compulsory. It illustrates the high value attached by the employees to the social elections. The significance of the elections is also shown in the media attention given to the subject. A look at the results of the elections (BE0807029I, BE0805019I, BE0309304T) indicates that the balance of power among the unions is very stable and the mutual shifts are limited at the aggregated level.
Caroline Vermandere, HIVA-KU Leuven