(26 October 2011) Along with the Congress ETUC organised a conference for European Works Councils (EWC’s) on 16-17 May this year. The conference was attended by around 120 representatives from EWC’s from all the different sectors and unions. It showed the huge variety of companies that trade unions and workers representatives are dealing with, all with their own characteristics. It also showed a wide variety of issues that EWC’s are dealing with and different ways of working that EWC’s have developed.

So it was a good exchange of experiences as participants got a view of many different ways to promote workers participation in company policies, and how colleagues use their information and consultation rights. EPSU was well represented with 12 EWC representatives, for a relative small number of multinationals in the public sector.

It was also an opportunity to network informally between EWC’s which was highly appreciated. The report of the conference is attached.

Report Athens conference