EWCs: Employers raise key issues

A coalition of major European employer organizations have published their objections to 'Radtke' amendments. They have called for a balanced approach to EWC Directive revisions and preserving EWC Directive's social dialogue role.

What's next: on April 3 the Employment Committee Votes on Radtke proposals and a vote by the full Parliament is expected during what will likely be its final session from April 22 - 24. There are Europe wide parliamentary election at the beginning of June.

The bottom line: Normally, a significant statement from major European employer groups would find support from the centre-right EPP, the biggest political group in the European Parliament.  But the irony is that the very proposals the employers are objecting to, are from an EPP member, the German Christian Democrat MEP, Denis Radtke.

Are Radtke’s German CDU/EPP colleagues aware that his proposals conflate European and national employee relations issues and could see injunctions become part of the labour landscape in Germany through EWCs?

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL

The full statement from the employers can be found HERE.

The joint statement expresses concern about:

1. The proposed definition of “transnational” matters which would blur the distinction between European and national labour relations issues. 
2. The ending of “pre-existing, “Article 13” agreements.
3. Limits on the ability of employers to keep information confidential.
4. The “open employer cheque book” that would be available to EWCs to hire experts and lawyers, and to organise training programs.
5. The proposed changes to the definition of “consultation” that would unnecessarily delay the taking and implementation of necessary business decisions.
6. The plan to give unions an automatic seat on all EWCs, irrespective of the level of their membership in a company.
7. The right of EWCs to ask for injunctions to block decision, something that is now to be found in only one or two EU Member States.

We will look in detail at what companies should do now in anticipation of changes in the Directive at our Academy Training Program in April in Sitges/Barcelona. There still some places available. See the academy brochure for details.

We will also be discussing what the changes in the Directive could mean for undertakings with EWCs based under Irish law in Brussels on Thursday, May 9. The event agenda will be circulated within the next two weeks.