Meetings on European multinationals: the experience so far

This article looks at the experience to date of meetings on European multinational companies, precursors to European works councils, using information from the main organisers, the European Industry Committees, and the participants. It finds that: there are now at least 290 European multinationals where employee representatives have met to talk about the prospect of a European works council. Overwhelmingly it is the national unions who decide who participates in the European level meetings and that, while non-UK unions draw on the statutory representative structures, such as works councils, to select their participants, in the UK the situation is more fluid. Overall around two-thirds of those attending are lay representatives. There are three issues which most meetings cover: the financial structure and plans of the company; a comparison of working conditions and trade union representation in the company's European locations; and the prospects of establishing a European works council. The meetings are about both exchanging information and building a European Works Council, although some Industry Committees focus more clearly on establishing a European Works Council than others. Participants report progress towards works councils, although they also welcome the links made and information shared at meetings. There are difficulties in maintaining links outside the meetings. The biggest single problem is language; people cannot communicate outside the formal sessions. There is also a general feeling among participants that they would like more information and among the organisers that they would like more resources. The key training needs are identified as language training followed by more training on the industrial relations systems in other countries.