After year-long negotiations, European social partners reached an agreement on information and consultation rights for civil servants and central government employees across Europe.
“This is a landmark agreement for central government employees, and a great boost to the social dialogue,” said European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) General Secretary Jan Willem Goudriaan. “Mr Juncker now needs to turn his words into concrete action by introducing an EU Directive.”
The agreement sets common minimum standards for workers and trade union representatives to be informed and consulted. They will be able to have a greater say when employers make changes in the workplace, or propose restructuring or amendments to working time. An important ‘non-regression clause’ ensures that countries with more advanced legislation will continue to apply national rules.