Works Councils, far from empowering people, act as a tool by which management can control and pacify people at work. The truth behind Works Councils is exposed here through the views of workers in France, who have witnessed their failure at first hand. The message is clear; there is nothing to be gained and much to lose from the introduction of a Works Council system in Britain.
Out of the Frying Pan is a critical analysis of Works Councils and a look ahead at a real future for organising and fighting back in your workplace.
From the French point of view, this looks really good from a cursory glance. But what happened with regard to the UK works councils? I'm not aware of them actually being set up, apart from in a couple of isolated enterprises. Did the law change or have I got something wrong?
.
Most private sector companies have a works council, which in theory the employees vote for representatives on. Anti-union companies seem keener on them than those that tolerate unions. I think the limits are something like having over 50 employees. The crucial thing for employers is that they don't want to be caught out on "not consulting", especially if they don't have a pliant union.
In my last employer, the union participated, critically, in the works council (which had a Britain-wide and European wide element). There was some communication, but not very much and most of it came from the union (MSF - though I was in a different union in line with my grade and Ts&Cs). The union wasn't generally recognised.
My current employer has one, but it's a bit moribund and gets wheeled out when they need to show legally that they've "consulted". They are resolutely anti-union.
Regards,
Martin
.
excellent article I was ignorent to them before hand, so thanks for enlightening me.
.
Dunno how I missed this article when first posted, just pleased I saw it today! Well done AES, cracking piece.
As elements of the international movement start splitting apart... I am reminded of this Solidarity Federation pamphlet. One that, on so many levels, speaks to the heart of many of the problems that set up the current situation....I don't think most folks know what drove the split in the CNT-AIT, lead to the formation of the CGT and then lead, at the instance of the CNT, to the "no contact:" policy. That said, this speaks directly to the reasons for the splits in the French CNT. And to a certain degree the split in Italian USI, and the USI instance on the "no contact" policy with USI Roma. Ya know, "context matters", whether one agrees or disagrees with the outcome. While not speaking directly to a certain "legalism" practiced by some in the broader movement, it does suggest some of the dangers that exist when becoming too "tactically flexible" (which I'm not opposed to within certain limits).