The collective labour agreement
is the single most important
agreement for employees
In 1994 the European Union approved the directive about the cooperation between companies between Member States. In Finland the stipulations required by the directive were implemented in 1996 by making the necessary changes to the law about collaboration in companies (Cooperative Act).
EWC activities aim to improve the information flow to the workers in the same concern and create better negotiation possibilities on European level questions. EWC is a body for worker representatives, not labour unions, with the right to meet with the corporate management at last once a year.
European Works Councils must be established in all companies that have a minimum of 1000 workers in the EU or the EEA. 150 workers must be from at least two different countries.
EWS contract has also been negotiated in Posti Group. Representatives for the Post European Works Council are Tero Kelkka (chairman), Lena Müller-Salonen, Tarja Stranden, Pasi Hentunen (OpusCapita) ja Timo Kärnä (YTN). Iikka Avela works as an expert of the Union in EWC.