Employee representation

Works councils in the Netherlands have had conspicuous success during 1998 in overturning the strategic business planning decisions of employers. Rulings have arguably, however, shown that the right of appeal of works councils does not present a fundamental attack on the policy-making freedom of the

In autumn 1998, the French Ministry for Employment published the results of the two-yearly works council elections that took place in 1996. Turn-out among employees was slightly down on the 1994 elections, while medium-term trends in support for the candidates of the various trade unions were

Since 1987, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has represented its affiliated trade unions as a "social partner", negotiating four successive national agreements. These agreements have gradually incorporated an increasing range of issues. Having developed this role, ICTU has significantly

The idea of having a "works constitution" (Betriebsverfassung) at the level of the establishment, ensuring employees an institutionalised interest representation in the form of works councils [1], has a long tradition in Germany and represents a major pillar of the country's industrial relations

A resolution on Achieving a Social Europe through the social dialogue and European Works Councils [1] was adopted by the European Regional Organisation of the International Federation of Commercial, Clerical, Professional and Technical Employees (Euro-FIET), at its eighth annual conference held in

Contractor, free agent, self-employed, freelancer - there are many names for people selling their competence, skills, services and labour without having an employment contract. Even if Sweden, together with Denmark, has the lowest figures in the EU (8% of the total occupied labour force compared

In March 1998, Finland's SAK trade union confederation commissioned a survey, enquiring about the willingness of Estonians to move to Finland and their views on some labour market and industrial relations issues. According to the results - published in June - over a quarter of those interviewed

A particularly important stage in the renewal of company-level agreements in the Italian food sector started in June 1998. As usual, Galbani (part of the Danone group) has played a "pace-setting" role, followed swiftly by Nestlè, introducing important new provisions in the areas of industrial