Employee consultation about to get tougher for pan-European firms

Trade unions have persistently complained over the past 10 years that the 900-plus existing European works councils (EWCs) are sidelined by employers during transnational restructuring, with information sharing reduced to announcements of decisions already made. The EU has responded by giving EWCs greater rights. The new Transnational Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 2010, which implement the revised directive and set rules governing the creation, operation and enforcement of EWCs in the UK, are effective from 5 June 2011.