Works Council elections 2024
AUC employees represented by Works Council of UvA-FNWI
The representational rights of AUC employees reside with the Works Council ("Ondernemingsraad") of the Faculty of Science of the University of Amsterdam. The Works Council legally represents Faculty of Science staff and constitutes the faculty's representative advisory council. The Works Council consults with the faculty administrator (the dean of the Faculty of Sciences) on all policy matters and the organisation's effective performance in terms of all its objectives. The Works Council also issues recommendations on financial policy, organisational policy and human resources policy.
Three-year term
According to Section 12 of the Works Councils Act (WOR), Works Council members retire simultaneously every three years. This three-year term will begin on 1 July 2024 after the upcoming elections.
What will you do as Works Council member?
As a member of the Works Council, you represent the interests of your colleagues on topics such as employment conditions, working conditions and social regulations. It is also a great opportunity for personal and professional development, by:
- Being the first to know about important matters within your department or faculty.
- Learning about the daily management of the college/university and the subjects the council advises on.
- Building a network with engaged colleagues from other departments.
- Attending a minimum of 5 training days per year to enhance your skills for the Works Council.
AUC subcommittee (AUC-ODC)
Within the Faculty of Science Work Council, a special sub-committee ("onderdeelcommissie") has been established for AUC (ODC-AUC). The ODC-AUC of the Works Council FNWI functions as the official representative body of AUC employees, including both academic and administrative staff. They consult with the Dean of AUC on all policy matters and give advice, make recommendations and in many cases, give consent or approval about policies which include financial, organisational and HR-related such as work pressure, career development, budgets, organisational structure etc).
More information
Works Council elections
The Works Council elections are the chance for AUC employees to elect members of the FNWI Works Council and the AUC-ODC. Anyone interested in becoming a member of either is encouraged to submit their candidacy (AUC-ODC meetings are held in English while the FNWI Works Council meetings take place in Dutch).
Elections timeline
1. Compilation of electoral register: 12-23 February
From 12 to 16 February, you can check whether you are part of the electoral register and are listed for the correct electoral district. To be able to vote in the elections and declare candidacy, you must be correctly listed in the electoral register. Please note: there was a mistake made in the registering of AUC employees in the UvA electoral register. If you checked the register from 22 January to 29 January (for the rest of the UvA), you would notice the information was incorrect. This has been amended and the correct information can be checked from 12 to 16 February.
2. Nominatie yourself as a candidate: 11-18 March
From 11 to 18 March, employees who are eligible to vote can declare themselves as a candidate in the Works Council elections. Employees of faculties can stand as candidates for their faculty, employees of the executive staff and shared service units can stand for the joint works council.AUC employees can be elected to represent their coworkers on the Works Council for the UvA Faculty of Sciences (FNWI) and can also be elected to the AUC-ODC.
You can nominate yourself for your works council through a trade union list or through a free list (as an individual). If you're a member of a union participating in these works council elections and want to nominate yourself through the union list, you can arrange this through your union. If you're not a union member or don't want to nominate yourself on behalf of the union, you can participate via a free list. You can join an existing free list or start your own. The current Works Council members or the secretary of the AUC-ODC can assist you with this until 13 March.
Submitting forms for candidacy before 18 March
Please note that all forms (see section 'Necessary forms') must be physically received by the UvA Central Voting Bureau (reception of the Maagdenhuis at Spui 21) by 17.00 on Monday 18 March. You can choose to deliver them yourself or you can submit them to Natalie Strong (Secretary AUC-ODC) who will deliver them on your behalf. For this option, please make sure you deliver all forms to Natalie no later than 12.00 on 18 March.
3. Voting period: 8-12 April
From 8 to 12 April, you can vote for your works council. All employees on the electoral register will receive an email with a personalised invitation to vote.