Brussels, 31/10/2000 (Agence Europe) - Tuesday's trade union demonstration offered the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) the opportunity to remind European employers (Unice), the European Commission and the Council of its demands in the area of workers' rights (see yesterday's EUROPE, page 16). "We consider that in this phase of restructuring of the workings of industy, it is essential to strengthen workers' rights to information and consultation. There is a need to legitimise employee participation in decisions of the companies employing them that concern their future. People must be in a position of acting as forces for change", declared ETUC Secretary General Emilio Gabaglio. "To make this happen, we have a tryptic of elements on the table: a) review of the directive on European Works Councils, a point on which today's demonstration focused, b) early approval of the new directive on information and consultation rights in all enterprises in Europe; c) the European company statute." According to the Secretary General, "things seem to be moving on the social chapter of the European company statute in the Council. This item is on the agenda of the next Employment and Social Policy Council on 27 and 28 November. I therefore conclude that we have our work cut out for us. This is a step forward that should bring other instruments in its wake."The Commission said that it would ensure that these issues do indeed progress. ETUC noted, on the other hand, that the European employers had once again claimed "inadmissibility" for these three issues. For Unice, Emilio Gabaglio explained, "there is sufficient right to information. Unice is neither interested in the review of the Directive on EWCs because it considers it premature, nor to the Statute of limited companies that should, however, lead to the Europeanisation of companies. We shall therefore have to continue our struggle", Emilio Gabaglio concluded.
Unice Secretary General Dirk Hudig considered that the review of the directive on Work Councils was both "premature, not really necessary, and could give companies a negative signal". It is premature "because one needs an excellent knowledge of the enterprise's situation to assess an amendment to the legislation". What is more, Mr. Hudig adds: "I am not convinced that such a review is necessary simply because the situation of companies comes within the task of the social partners, companies even, rather than the European legislator". Finally, Mr. Hudig fears that it should provide a "negative signal to companies that are now making their EWCs work as best they can". Unice's Secretary General, however, did consider that work on European trade unions had to be continued. Thus, "we agree to step up our work on the ground and better seize the problems, but also to proceed with a joint analysis aimed at encouraging best practices, and even see if a guide to company best practices could not be jointly published".
Regarding the European company, Dirk Hudig recalled that one had not only to see the social aspect of it: "the fiscal aspect must also be developed". Finally, regarding worker information-consultation in national companies, "the title speaks for itself". For the Secretary General, "it is not yet necessary to change the existing systems, especially for SMEs. Does a 20-person SME need so much formality?" asks Dirk Hudig, considering that the issue "needs settling without intervention from Brussels".