Legislate on Revision of EWC Directive now ! says 8 million Union Federation

Press Communication, 24 April 2008



Legislate on Revision of EWC Directive now !

says 8 million Union Federation

(24 April, Brussels) The Executive Committee of the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) approved the position of the ETUC regarding its decision not to negotiate on the Revision of the European Works Council Directive, 22 April 2008. BusinessEurope was not able to agree to a fixed and short timetable and the risk of bad faith negotiations was considerable giving the attitude of BusinessEurope and some of its members who have consistently and violently lobbied against the Revision of the Directive. This would have delayed revision considerably.

The EPSU Executive requests the European Commission to introduce the Draft proposal for amendments to the EWC Directive as soon as possible but no later then end of May. The European Commission Communication used for the 2nd phase of consultation and the ETUC comments on it provide a solid basis and are the indication of Europe's working men and women expect. Information and consultation rights need to be strengthened, and resources and a clear legal framework given to EWCs to do their work, react to restructuring, mergers and take-overs and in general ensure that democratisation of the workplace does not lag behind the transnationalisation of capital.

Comments EPSU Deputy General Secretary Jan Willem Goudriaan and responsible for EPSU EWC coordination: ‘If the European Commission does not act now and introduce the revision of the EWC Directive, it signals that Europe's companies have a veto over social legislation. It indicates that they have the European Commission in an iron grip to promote only one and one agenda only that of liberalised markets, competition and greed. The damage to the European project will be significant'.

EPSU affiliated trade unions represent workers in Europe's largest companies in energy, water, waste, health and related services.

For information please contact:
Jan Willem Goudriaan, EPSU, 32 2 2501080 or + 32 475 256912

- EPSU press ending -

EPSU is the European Federation of Public Service Unions. It is the largest federation of the ETUC. 8 million public service workers from over 200 trade unions are members. They organise workers in the energy, water and waste sectors, health and social services and local and national administration.