European Trade Unions Unite Against EU Directive Opposition

Strategic Insights -

Led by Britain's Trades Union Congress (TUC), four of Europe's most powerful trade union organizations have joined forces to pressure their governments to drop their objections to an EU directive that would grant workers the right to be consulted on plant closures and job losses. The joint statement, issued today, urges governments to prioritize the directive, which would give all European workers in companies with over 50 employees the right to consultation. Despite France's intention to make the directive a priority during its EU presidency, the UK, Germany, and Spain have expressed opposition, citing concerns over additional bureaucracy.

Key Takeaways:

  • The TUC, along with Spanish, German, and Irish trade unions, has issued a joint statement urging their governments to drop objections to the EU directive on worker consultation.
  • The proposed directive would grant 65% of the UK workforce the right to be consulted on major changes at work.
  • The UK is the only country in Europe without a legal commitment to workplace consultation through works councils, leaving its workforce as "second-class citizens".
  • Failure to implement the directive would mean UK workers would continue to be treated differently from workers in other European countries.
  • The TUC argues that the UK's high rate of mergers and takeovers is due to its workforce being seen as expendable.
  • The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has described the proposed directive as "bureaucracy gone mad".
  • Germany already has legal commitments on workplace consultation through works councils.
  • The draft directive is due to be discussed at the EU's social affairs council next Tuesday.

Statistics:

  • 65% of the UK workforce would be granted the right to be consulted under the proposed EU directive.
  • The UK has the highest rate of mergers and takeovers in Europe.
  • 4 countries (UK, Germany, Spain, and France) have a combined vote initiative to block the directive at the EU's social affairs council.
  • Employers' lobby, the CBI, estimates that business must communicate with staff in ways that reflect national and local customs and practice.

Sources:

  • "TUC in row over EU workplace consultation rules", by Philip Johnston, The Telegraph, *no date provided*
  • "European Trade Unions Unite Against EU Directive Opposition", Anonymous, *no date provided*