Isabelle Schömann, Deputy Secretary of the ETUC, commended the collective efforts of EWCs, ETUC affiliates, and political actors in advocating for improvements in the situation of EWCs. She stressed the pressing need for revising the EWC Directive to better protect workers' rights within the European Union. Furthermore, Schömann highlighted the pivotal role of the Spanish presidency in shaping the future of transnational worker representation.

Reaffirming the ETUC's unwavering commitment, she emphasized, "The ETUC remains resolutely committed to advocating for the rights of workers throughout the EU." As momentum builds behind the EWC Directive's revision, the ETUC expressed its full commitment to collaborate with stakeholders, EU policymakers, and institutions. Schömann concluded, "Transnational workers' representation is a cornerstone of Europe's labor rights, ensuring workers' voices are heard and their rights protected."

European Works Councils (EWCs) play a pivotal role in safeguarding the rights and interests of workers in multinational companies operating across the European Union. The importance of EWCs has gained prominence on the European agenda. Following years of advocacy by the ETUC and its affiliates, the European Parliament called for a revision of the EWC Directive in January 2023, acknowledging the need to adapt to evolving labor dynamics. This priority was reiterated by Ursula von der Leyen during her State of the Union address, emphasizing the urgency of revising the Directive.

However, the current EWC Directive faces criticism for its ineffectiveness in protecting workers' rights. It falls short of providing adequate safeguards, leaving workers vulnerable, and management is not obligated to respect these rights. Recent legal cases, such as the Adecco case in the UK, highlighted the need for more effective enforcement mechanisms. The case of IAG (International Consolidated Airlines Group), the parent company of British Airways and Iberia, illustrated challenges faced by EWCs in securing their rights. Despite a court ruling that IAG should have informed and consulted the EWC when laying off 12,000 workers, these layoffs occurred two years prior, making changes impossible, and no sanctions were imposed on IAG for violating the EWC's rights.

In conclusion, the EWC Conference and the efforts of the ETUC serve as critical steps toward strengthening transnational workers' representation and addressing the challenges faced by EWCs in protecting the rights of workers across the European Union.

For further information, please contact: Stefan Gran ([email protected]).