STUDY INTO THE IDENTIFICATION OF THEMES AND ISSUES WHICH CAN BE DEALT WITH IN A SOCIAL DIALOGUE IN THE EUROPEAN PROFESSIONAL CYCLING SECTOR Industrial Relations and Social Dialogue Budget Heading 04.03.03.01 VP/2008/001 Final Report October 2009 T.M.C. ASSER INSTITUUT The Hague The Netherlands Social Dialogue in the European Professional Cycling Sector Page 2 CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 005 CHAPTER 2: SOCIAL DIALOGUE – AN INTERNATIONAL OVERVIEW 007 2.1. Introduction 007 2.2. The standards of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) 007 2.2.1. Introductory remarks 007 2.2.2. Tripartism 008 2.2.3. Development of the ILO standards 008 2.2.4. The Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (1998) 010 2.2.5. Overview of standards 010 2.2.5.1. Fundamental Conventions on freedom of association and collective bargaining 010 2.2.5.2. Freedom of association (agriculture, non-metropolitan territories) 010 2.2.5.3. Industrial relations 010 2.2.6. Conventions 87 and 98 011 2.2.6.1. Convention 87 011 2.2.6.2. Convention 98 012 2.2.6.3. The right to strike 012 2.2.7. Ratifications of Convention 87 012 2.2.8. The Committee of Experts and Committee on Freedom of Association 012 2.3. The European Union 013 2.3.1. The European social partners 013 2.3.2. The question of representativeness 013 2.3.3. Levels of social dialogue 015 2.3.3.1. Cross-industry level 015 2.3.3.2. Sector level 015 2.3.3.3. Enterprise level 015 2.4. The role of social partners in the legislative process under the Social Chapter 016 2.4.1. Consultation 016 2.4.2. Intervention 016 2.4.3. Initiative 017 2.5. European agreement 017 2.6. Practical insight in the European social dialogue 018 2.6.1. Typology of European social dialogue outcomes 018 2.6.1.1. Agreements implemented in accordance with Article 139(2): minimum standards 018 2.6.1.1.1. Agreements implemented by Council decision 018 2.6.1.1.2. Autonomous agreements implemented by the procedures and practices specific to management and labour and the Member States 018 2.6.1.2. Agreements with other characteristics 018 2.6.1.2.1. Frameworks of action 019 2.6.1.2.2. Guidelines and codes of conduct 019 2.6.1.2.3. Policy orientations 020 2.6.1.2.4. Joint opinions 020 2.6.1.2.5. Declarations 020 2.6.1.2.6. Tools 020 2.6.2. The social dialogue survey 021 2.7. ANNEX: ratifications of ILO Conventions 87 and 98 021 2.7.1. Convention 87 021 2.7.2. Convention 98 026 CHAPTER 3: BEST PRACTICES / LESSONS LEARNED FROM SOCIAL DIALOGUE COMMITTEES IN OTHER INDUSTRIAL SECTORS 031 CHAPTER 4: SOCIAL DIALOGUE: BACKGROUND AND RELEVANCE TO SPORT 033 4.1. Labour Regulation in the Treaty System33 4.1.1. Community legislative competence – internal market and residual 033 4.1.2. Social policy legislative competence and internal market competence compared 033 4.1.3. Outline of developments in Social Dialogue 034 4.2. Present State of Articles 137-139 EC 034 4.2.1. Powers of Harmonisation: Detail 035 4.2.2. Caveats to Social Policy-based Harmonisation 036 4.2.3. Social Dialogue as a catalyst 036 4.2.4. Autonomous negotiations 036 4.2.5. Autonomous agreements beyond express legislative competences 037 4.2.6. Obligations to Consult 037 Social Dialogue in the European Professional Cycling Sector Page 3 4.3. The Actors and Products of Social Dialogue 038 4.3.1. Permanent institutions in European Social Dialogue 038 4.3.2. Representativeness criteria 038 4.4. The Commission’s Typology of Social Dialogue Agreements 039 4.4.1. Minimum Standards Agreements 039 4.4.2. Process-Oriented Texts 039 4.4.3. Joint Opinions and Tools for the Exchange of Information 040 4.4.4. Procedural Texts 040 4.4.5. Follow-Up Reports 040 4.5. Legal Relationship between national and European initiatives in social policy 040 4.5.1. Supremacy 041 4.5.2. Direct effect 041 4.5.3. Private Parties and horizontal effects of the Treaty 041 4.5.4. Regulations 041 4.5.5. Directives 042 4.5.6. Council Decisions 042 4.5.7. Recommendations and Opinions 042 4.5.8. General Principles of Community Law 043 4.5.9. State Liability 043 4.5.10. Obligations of sympathetic interpretation 043 4.5.11. National Labour Law and Erga Omnes Effect 043 4.5.12. Legal Effects of Autonomous Agreements 044 4.6. Social Dialogue in Sport 044 4.7. Encouraging Dialogue Within Sport 045 4.8. Social Dialogue in Sport 047 4.9. Recent Developments in Football Governance 048 4.10. “Building the Social Dialogue in the Sport Sector” 049 CHAPTER 5: AGENDA FOR A SOCIAL DIALOGUE IN EUROPEAN PROFESSIONAL CYCLING 051 5.1. Introduction 051 5.2. Agreements 051 5.3. Professional cycling sector 054 5.3.1. Social partner organisations at a European level 054 Le CPA au sein du Cyclisme Professionnel International 055 Le C P A 056 Accord Paritaire C P A / AIGCP 056 5.3.2. Themes and Issues 057 5.3.2.1. UCI Joint Agreements 057 5.3.2.1.1. Anti-Doping 065 International Cycling Union: Riders’ commitment to a new cycling 066 International Cycling Union: Press release: Michael Rasmussen’s return to competition: the UCI’s position 067 5.3.2.1.2. Headphones 067 International Cycling Union: Press release: UCI Management Committee accepts the lifting of radio ban for the Vittel-Colmar stage 067 5.4. National Collective Bargaining Agreements 068 Belgium 068 Report on “Promoting the EU Social Dialogue in the professional cycling sector” - Regional workshop: Brussels, 12 May 2009 068 France 071 Accord Collectif des Coureurs Cyclistes Professionnels 071 Report on “Promoting the EU Social Dialogue in the professional cycling sector” - Regional workshop: Paris, 29 May 2009 (postponed) 101 23 October 2009: meeting with Ives Bonnamour, General Secretary of AIGCP 101 23 October 2009: meeting with Yvon Sanquer, French Professional Cycling League 103 Utrecht, The Netherlands, 25 August 2009: meeting with Martial Gayant, directeur sportif, Française des Jeux 103 Utrecht, The Netherlands, 25 August 2009: meeting with Dominique Arnould, director sportif, AG2R 105 Germany 106 Report on “Promoting the EU Social Dialogue in the professional cycling sector” - Regional workshop: Berlin 6 May 2009 106 Italy 108 Report on “Promoting the EU Social Dialogue in the professional cycling sector” - Regional workshop: Rome 29 May 2009 (postponed / Milan, 10 September 2009) 108 Schiedam, The Netherlands, 17 August 2009: meeting with Mario Chiesa, Team Director of Liquigas 110 Netherlands 112 Portugal 112 Regulamentos para Equipas Continentais - Regulamento a ter efeito a partir de 2009 e anos seguintes 112 Social Dialogue in the European Professional Cycling Sector Page 4 Spain 124 Professional Cycling - Collective Agreement 124 Report on “Promoting the Social Dialogue in the professional cycling sector” 136 Regional workshop: Madrid, 26 March 2009 136 5.5. Conclusion 138 5.5.1. Type of agreement 139 5.5.2. Content of the agreement 139 5.6. Reflections – The concept of EU Social Dialogue in EU professional cycling 140 5.6.1. Structure and European Dimension 140 5.6.2. Stakeholders in EU cycling 141 5.6.3. Themes and Issues 142 5.6.4. Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee 143 ANNEXES 144 Accord Paritaire 144 Convenio Colectivo para la Actividad del Ciclismo Profesional 150 The Legal Status of Professional Racing Cyclists in German Law: Employee or Self Employed? Legal Expertise by Prof. Dr. Dres. h.c. Rolf Birk (Trier) 162 Recensement Coureurs Proteams 2008 168 Equipes Continentales Professionnelles 2008 168 Social Dialogue in the European Professional Cycling Sector Page 5 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION The White Paper on Sport states that in the light of a growing number of challenges to sport governance, social dialogue at European level can contribute to addressing common concerns of employers and athletes, including agreements on employment relations and working conditions in the sector in accordance with EC Treaty provisions. The Commission encourages and welcomes all efforts leading to the establishment of European Social Dialogue Committees in the sport sector. In October 2007 AIGCP (Association Internationale des Groupes Cyclistes Professionnels), IPCT (International Professional Cycling Teams) and CPA (Cyclistes Professionnels Associés) announced that they had jointly requested the European Commission to establish a Social Dialogue Committee in the professional cycling sector in Europe. AIGCP, IPCT and CPA stated that they are convinced that this Social Dialogue, under the umbrella of the European Commission, will be a good tool to renew and modernise professional cycling and its governance. The purpose of this study is to identify the “content” of a Social Dialogue in the European professional cycling sector, once a pertinent Committee will have been officially established under EU auspices, that is possible themes and issues which are suitable to be considered and discussed in a Social Dialogue, the formal framework for setting an agenda of topics being Article 136 et seq. of the EC Treaty. This study will help social partner organisations and other stakeholders at international and national level to become aware of the possible options regarding themes and issues which can be dealt with between management and labour in a Social Dialogue at the European level. The study is expected to facilitate the start of negotiations once the official Social Dialogue Committee will be established in the European professional cycling sector. It will offer social partner organisations a helpful instrument for determining their thematic framework.