24 trade union coordinators and European Works Council (EWC) chairpersons, representing 11 multinational groups from the information and communication technologies (ICT), automotive, chemicals, pharma, steel and textile sectors, gathered in Nice for a training organised in cooperation with the European Trade Union Institute.
This course, which has already proven its value before, is aiming at strengthening the cooperation between the trade union coordinator and worker representatives on the EWC.
A lot of time was given to the participants to exchange experiences and learn from each other’s successes and mistakes, while also taking a closer look at the industriAll Europe guidelines for coordinators and the many recommendations for EWC members that have been published, such as how to promote equal opportunities and how to deal with digitalisation.
An important topic was the anticipation and management of restructuring, for which the Transnational Restructuring Navigator was considered by everyone as an excellent tool to find the appropriate information and practical recommendations in times of major changes.
A concrete action plan and roadmap were developed for every EWC, with the aim of further improving the efficiency of the body and stimulating transnational cooperation.
Special attention was given to the state of play regarding the revision of the EWC Directive. Expectations are high, especially concerning the need for stronger tools for the enforcement of their rights, easy access to justice, and sanctions that are truly dissuasive.
Isabelle Barthès, Deputy General Secretary of industriAll Europe, said: “In these times of deep crisis in many of our sectors, when more than 100 000 job losses have been announced only in the last year, the EWC is in the best position to deal with the challenges that come with it. EWCs must be assured that they do not only have the right, but also the means to express an opinion about planned restructurings which must be taken into account by companies’ management.
“The European Commission, European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, who are currently negotiating the revision of the EWC Directive, have a unique opportunity to strengthen democracy at work at a time when it is needed more than ever.”
This course, which has already proven its value before, is aiming at strengthening the cooperation between the trade union coordinator and worker representatives on the EWC.
A lot of time was given to the participants to exchange experiences and learn from each other’s successes and mistakes, while also taking a closer look at the industriAll Europe guidelines for coordinators and the many recommendations for EWC members that have been published, such as how to promote equal opportunities and how to deal with digitalisation.
An important topic was the anticipation and management of restructuring, for which the Transnational Restructuring Navigator was considered by everyone as an excellent tool to find the appropriate information and practical recommendations in times of major changes.
A concrete action plan and roadmap were developed for every EWC, with the aim of further improving the efficiency of the body and stimulating transnational cooperation.
Special attention was given to the state of play regarding the revision of the EWC Directive. Expectations are high, especially concerning the need for stronger tools for the enforcement of their rights, easy access to justice, and sanctions that are truly dissuasive.
Isabelle Barthès, Deputy General Secretary of industriAll Europe, said: “In these times of deep crisis in many of our sectors, when more than 100 000 job losses have been announced only in the last year, the EWC is in the best position to deal with the challenges that come with it. EWCs must be assured that they do not only have the right, but also the means to express an opinion about planned restructurings which must be taken into account by companies’ management.
“The European Commission, European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, who are currently negotiating the revision of the EWC Directive, have a unique opportunity to strengthen democracy at work at a time when it is needed more than ever.”