Catherwood LibraryILR School

Earlier this month the European Union Employment Ministers’ Council adopted an Information and Consultation Directive, which will eventually require all companies with over fifty employees in any member state to form and negotiate with works councils. Already common throughout much of continental Europe, works councils will be required at all companies above the minimum staffing levels within the decade---representing a drastic change for countries such as Britain that are unfamiliar with this form of industrial democracy. Regardless of whether they recognize unions, employers will be required to meet minimum standards of transparency, cooperation and openness with meaningful works councils or a council system outlined in the EU directive will be imposed on them.