The Evolving European Works Councils: Some Early Evidence Available to Purchase

There has long been an interest in consultative processes and in raising the level of social dialogue within European companies ever since the Vredeling proposals of the early 1970s. While such interest has been delayed and made secondary to market‐oriented integration policies (Ramsay, 1990; Grahl and Teague, 1990), it has reemerged in the very systematic development of the European Works Council directive. Given that the employers had been strongly resisting any such legislation since the original Vredeling proposals, coupled with the reduction in trade union political influence and power throughout Europe generally, it is not surprising that the European Works Council directive has been warmly greeted by the unions generally.