Against the background of increasing European-wide company restructuring this conference will provide a forum for discussion of trade union responses towards multinational companies and their global strategies.

The transnational strategies of multinational companies call for a defence of workers’ interests beyond national boundaries, i.e. trade union strategies have to be coordinated at European level. The EMF view is that the only answer is to ensure that European Works Councils, national unions and the EMF strive together to develop coordinated strategies and socially acceptable solutions.

With this conference the EMF aims to:
· take stock of the challenges the metalworkers are faced with in multinational
companies;
· reflect upon the political stances the EMF adopted so far in the field of company
policy as a response to these challenges;
· stimulate a debate and an exchange between the participants about their experience
with MNCs, EWCs and related issues
· identify priorities to improve trade union influence and strength in MNCs in the
future.
Information, consultation and participation rights are constituent elements of the
European Social Model. The EMF fully intends to uphold and enforce these rights
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PRESS 31/2006
The EMF is the representative body defending the interests of workers in the European metal industry. The EMF has a mandate for the external representation and coordination of the metalworkers' unions and a mandate to engage in bargaining at European level.

For further information please contact:
Editor, Peter Scherrer, EMF General Secretary
Isabelle Barthes, EMF Senior Adviser