ABSTRACT
Every day, newspapers are full of news about mergers and mega-mergers, about acquisitions, restructuring, closures, relocations and reorganisation of business on a transnational spanale. Decisions of transnational central management affect workers in all European subsidiaries. In contrast, the rights of workers and their representatives have their limits at national borders. The Directive on European Works Councils (EWCs) was a first step to remedy this situation. Since 1994 practice has shown that, thanks to EWCs, ‘undertakings’ have gained the advice of the best possible consultants: workers and their representatives. Information and consultation with workers and their representatives is a basic social right, but at the same time one of the most important elements of modern corporate governance.
