EWC development in Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia (2006)
A series of 10 case studies were carried out between January and July 2006 in Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia. This Foundation research focused on European Works Councils development and analysed experiences in new Member States. It drew on the work conducted between 2001 and 2004 on the functioning of EWCs in practice. It also identified factors likely to favour or obstruct EWC development, and paid particular attention to issues arising from enlargement.
Interviews were carried out with the management representatives at companies’ head offices at the largest operation in the respective country in new Member States, with EWC members from new member states and, when applicable, with the companies’ trade union representation either at the group’s headquarters or at the largest operation in that country.
The following case studies were carried out by a research team in different countries:
ABB, Bosch, Deutsche Telekom, GM Opel, KBC Bank, MOL, Sanofi-Aventis, Siemens, Unilever, and Volkswagen.
The final report The experience of European Works Councils in new EU Member States is available.
EWCs in practice in France, Germany, Italy, Sweden and the United Kingdom (2003)
The Foundation carried out a number of case studies on European Works Councils (EWCs) in 2003. The aim was to study EWCs with headquarters in five EU Member States - France, Germany, Italy, Sweden and United Kingdom - on the basis of a common conceptual framework, with a view to describing how European Works Councils function in reality. These case studies have been analysed and a report, European Works Councils in practice, was published in 2004. The report focuses on the relationship of the employee representatives and management involved in the EWC with the rest of the workforce within the transnational enterprise; and the influence of external relationships on the functioning of the EWC.
Please note that the case studies were completed in summer 2003 and therefore some of the material may not reflect the current situation. The case studies are listed below and were carried out by a research team in each country.
List of case studies:
France | Germany | Italy |
Sweden |