European Works Councils case studies: The Riva Group

In September 1994, the Council of Ministers decided on a Directive on the establishment of a European Works Council (EWC) for the purposes of informing and consulting employees (94/45/EC). The emergence of EWCs is a major part of the development of an industrial relations system at European level. The founding process of the EWC in the Riva Group was first promoted in 1994 by the German metalworkers’ union IG Metall, assisted by the EFM (European Federation of Metalworkers). It was subsequently, following the acquisition of a large proportion of the Italian steelmaking sector through the Ilva Group, accepted and supported by the Italian union.