In a hearing on July 1 in the run-up to the drafting of an own-initiative report of the European Parliament on ‘Democracy at work’, Aleardo Pelacchi, a long-standing Confsal trade unionist from Italy and expert in European Works Councils, had in particular

• pointed to the need to strengthen the right to unionise as a basis for functioning worker representation at company-level, noting that trade unions can only defend the rights of workers effectively is their overall coverage and involvement is high;
• emphasised the urgent need to establish better guidelines for more effective worker participation processes at company level;
• stressed the necessity to further strengthen meaningful worker participation in European Works Councils in particular. “This should include real, ex-ante involvement and not just ex-post information transmittance after corporate decisions have already been made”, he had noted.

The final version of the report adopted by the European Parliament plenary last week, on December 16, takes up much of these considerations. The report, which is non-legislative, makes recommendations towards the European Commission for instance to:

• “put forward without further delay a directive on binding environmental and human rights due diligence and responsible business conduct, including workers’ rights such as the right to organise and collectively bargain”. It notes that “workers’ rights to organise, to collective union representation, to freedom of assembly and association, and to collectively call for reforms within their workplaces are fundamental aspects of the European project and core principles of the social model.”
• boost the role and functioning of European Works Councils (EWCs), stressing “the importance of ensuring timely and meaningful information and consultation [of EWCs], before management decisions are made” and highlighting that “workers’ representatives, including trade unions [in the EWCs], must have access to the requisite expertise and support documentation regarding management decisions” to ensure that “a genuine dialogue” and “meaningful participation” can take place in re-structurings.

CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger said: “Workplace democracy and workplace participation of employees is an important element for a sustained success of firms and business. Only when employees are engaged, involved and heard will they be able to adjust successfully to the diverse and profound social, economic, green and digital transitions that we are experiencing. Without employees taking ownership, without the insights of the workers that actually fulfill and deliver job functions, company and workplace changes will only be imposed top-down and risk to fail in their practical implementation. We are glad that the report of the European Parliament gives a number of key proposals to the European Commission to improve employee participation at the workplace both in general and in the context of the European Works Councils in particular.”

Further information about the report of the European Parliament is available here.