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Report Day of Participation in Decision-making

2 April 2025

On 27 March 2025, the On 27 March 2025, the Day of Participation in Decision-making emphasized the importance of public participation in all facets and forms. In her opening of the event, President of the Executive Board Edith Hooge emphasized how essential employee participation is in achieving a healthy and transparent organizational culture.

This was followed by a panel discussion led by Erella Grassiani (Works Council Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, FMG). The chairs of the Works Councils of the Faculty of Humanities and the Central Works Council (FGw & COR, Gerwin van der Pol), Joint Works Council (GOR, Laura de Reus) and Faculty of Science (FNWI, Wouter Waalewijn) discussed the challenges of employee participation with the audience. This showed that there are considerable differences between participation at the individual faculties. The panel discussion was a suitable prelude to the rest of the day, where participants from all faculties got to know each other, shared experiences, and exchanged best practices.

Bora Fidan subsequently explained the project 'Strengthening Participation', and the Social and Economic Council (SER) delivered a presentation on the evolution of participation within the Dutch working climate over the past 75 years.

Two rounds of workshops followed in the afternoon:

  • 'Can they do that? A brief introduction to the WOR' emphasized the relevance of knowledge of Works Councils legislation for participation members to exert influence.
  • 'Unknown makes unloved: the development days from the Collective Labour Agreement in the spotlight' provided more information about the how, what and why of the development days for the Collective Labor Agreement, and the role employee participation plays in this.
  • 'From Menstruation to Menopauze: supporting women in the workplace' removed taboos around the theme of the female life cycle, and provided space for sharing experiences. 
  • In 'Jointly responsible for a socially safe working environment' participants discussed what desirable work floor behaviour is, and how we can prevent boundaries from being crossed.
  • At 'Terms of Employment and Collective Labour Agreement Regulations at the UvA' the University Committee for Local Consultation (UCLO, the united trade unions representing university staff) explained the various regulations surrounding employment conditions at the UvA.

The day offered valuable insights and practical tools to strengthen employee participation. An important and positive conclusion from this event is that another Day of Co-determination will be organized next year.