Background

This project meets the specific demands of the 04.03.03.03 budget heading by planning and implementing transnational training sessions to help worker representatives in Romania and Bulgaria understand, support and take part in European Works Councils. The project involves expert trainers, researchers and EWC representatives from the UK, France, Bulgaria and Romania and has the support, in particular of Unite, the UK’s largest private sector trade union with a wealth of experience in working with EWCs. The project is also supported by seven trade union organisations in Bulgarian, including the two main confederations – Podkrepa and CITUB – as well as two trade union organisations in Romania – including the national confederation – Cartel Alfa.

 

Context

Trade unionists in Bulgaria and Romania are facing new challenges as their countries integrate into the European Union. The social dialogue is a vital element of the new European-level industrial relations environment for these countries. In particular, company level social dialogue through EWCs will have an impact on a wide range of trade union reps and officials beyond the national officers and representatives who are likely to be involved in sectoral and intersectoral social dialogue. Trade unionists need to understand how EWCs work and the potential for trade unions to use EWCs to co-ordinate their responses on major issues such as restructuring. This means not just a comprehension of the legal background to EWCs, how they are established and the general provisions for how they should operate in theory, but also how they operate in practice and how they have been used to represent workers at transnational level during organisational restructuring. This project will provide a for union organisations in Bulgaria and Romania to extend the training to a broader range of trade unionists in more sectors.

Activities and expected results

The project envisages training Bulgarian and Romanian actual or potential representatives in EWC. On the basis of background study, done in Bulgaria and in Romania and analysis of training needs, trainings will be held in both countries. National helpdesks to support the reps are established. Website with all the necessary information is published in 3 languages.