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On the offensive for stronger European Works Councils

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) welcomes the European Commission’s initiative to present a social package, because it includes a very important section for workers: the revision of the European Works Council (EWC) directive. On the occasion of May Day, the ETUC is launching a campaign for stronger EWCs, which are important representative workers bodies inside companies. 

ETUC has been calling for a long time for a revision of the EWC directive; this is the reason why it will strongly support the Commission’s plan to strengthen EWCs.

ETUC reaffirms the importance of European Works Councils: indeed, they afford millions of workers across the European Union the right to information and consultation on company decisions through their EWC representatives, and that can affect a large number of workers. It’s an important message to remember on the occasion of May Day.

Today ETUC is launching a campaign to make sure that this crucial piece of legislation is adopted before the end of 2008. Together with the Hans Böckler Foundation, and in cooperation with the European Industry Federations, the ETUC will organise a conference on 9 and 10 June 2008 on EWCs. At this conference workers representatives on European Works Councils will discuss practical experiences which illustrate the urgent need for the revision of the EWC Directive.

Source: http://www.etuc.org/a/4933