Company Policy
In order to establish efficient counterweight vis-à-vis multinational companies the EMF has developed a comprehensive company policy which focuses on all elements of workers’ interests in a multinational company ranging from economic and industrial development, restructuring and reorganisation and working conditions. It covers information and consultation rights at European level (European Works Council) as well as participation rights (Company Statute). At the same time the EMF supports the development of a negotiation role in multinational companies. The EMF company policy involves the European Works Councils, the workers’ representatives on company boards, the national trade unions and the EMF EWC coordinators.
For more information, contact Tony Murphy, Company Policy Director.
European Works Councils
The EMF coordinates negotiations aimed at bringing about more, improved agreements based on the EWC Directive. In this respect the EMF has adopted some binding guidelines on EWC negotiations.
The EMF supports the work done by EWC especially via the EMF EWC coordinators whose main task is to support and guide EWCs. The EMF EWC coordinators have a European mandate, they represent the general interest of European workers. Their role has been defined in the EMF resolution on the role of EMF coordinators.
The EMF has also developed a section on legal matters in relation with EWC.
European Company Statute
The EMF encourages information, consultation and participation by workforce representatives within the context of the European Company Statute. In this respect the EMF has adopted some guidelines on workers’ involvement in a European Company.
Restructuring
Restructuring with a transnational dimension has become a permanent feature in multinational companies. Restructuring processes put also sites and countries in competition with each other. Faced with these challenges the EMF and its affiliates have to find appropriate responses at European level.
In this connection, the EMF has developed an EMF Policy Approach towards Socially Responsible Company Restructuring and an EMF handbook on how to deal with transnational restructuring. The handbook contents various tools to respond to transnational restructuring at European level.
Company policy database
The EMF database is a tool to support political cross-border trade union work within multinational companies in the metalworking sector.
It provides concrete information on developments and activities at multinational company level with respect to information, consultation and participation rights.
Contact Chantal Caron for more information.
Framework agreements
The EMF supports the development of a negotiation role in multinational companies. Through the negotiation of framework agreements both at European and international level, the EMF seeks to secure minimum standards for workers with a view to improve working conditions and avoid undercutting on social standards. This approach provides also support to national collective bargaining policies.
