News

The 3^rd UNI EG conference on Multinationals, co-financed by the European Commission, met in London with over 60 delegates from 19 countries and representing 14 European Works Councils present.

Simon Dubbins the President of UNI Europa Graphical opened the conference and outlined the objectives of the 3 days.



Peter Ellis a National Officer with UNITE the Union welcomed delegates to the conference



Participants were asked to complete a survey questionnaire on the strengths and weaknesses of their respective EWC’s prior to the conference. The results were collated and analysed by researcher David Tarren who highlighted areas that EWC’s should concentrate on for future consideration.



Jeremy Waddington Professor of IR from the University of Manchester provided an overview of the state of affairs in EWC’s within UNI Europa’s sphere of influence.



Claudia Saller, UNI EG’s EWC officer explained the recast directive and the implications for graphical unions as well as explaining UNI EG’s policy on European Works Councils.



Jean-Claude Ledouran, ETUI Education Officer introduced 3 case studies on different scenarios that EWC worker representatives may be confronted with and then split the participants into working groups. Each working group reported back on their approach to these scenarios.



Steve Walsh HOD of UNI Graphical gave a presentation on the building of global networks and agreements and the important relationship between EWC’s and these networks in multi national companies.



Participants again split into working groups and discussed the role that EWC’s have in developing networks and how to strengthen the work of trade unions as representatives of workers.



The conference identified the importance of increasing the co-operation between UNI, national unions and EWC office holders as well as strengthening the information and consultation mechanisms.



Further details contact claudia.saller@uniglobalunion.org