IR Notes
Working together to build a social Europe
An independent, reliable and impartial source of information on industrial relations and labour law in Europe.
IR Notes
An introduction
IR Notes is an independent, reliable and balanced briefing note on industrial relations and labour law in Europe.
Published in 6 languages and sold by subscription, this newsletter gives you access to concise, targeted and practical information on the major themes of both social Europe and transnational social dialogue.
With our experts and national correspondents, we adopt a dynamic, practical and useful approach to European social monitoring.
As a result, we select the most relevant topics, which are a source of cross-disciplinary and inspiring ideas.
Each issue includes:
- An interview with someone working in the field of industrial relations who offers their unique take on a current social issue, an agreement, or an example of best practice.
- Updates on EU legislative and case law developments.
- Monitoring of labour law developments in EU Member States.
- Updates on the latest developments concerning European Works Councils and SE Works Councils.
- Lastly, IR Notes keeps you informed about the main studies and research carried out on the world of work.
IR Notes
Read a free Newsletter
A community of experts, researchers and national correspondents selects the most relevant topics every fortnight in order to provide a source of cross-disciplinary and inspiring ideas. Why not download a free copy and see for yourself?
Léna Guyon, Policy Officer Social Affairs at FIEC (the European Construction Industry Federation)
Working with the European Federation of Building and Woodworkers (EFBWW), and with the support...
Brigitte Ollier, Senior Advisor on Social Affairs at UITP
Why do you and the European trade union federation ETF want to establish a European sectoral...
Séverine Picard, founder and Chief Executive Director of Progressive policies
You recently published a report denouncing severe exploitation of third-country road‑transport...
IR Notes
Building a social Europe together
The IR Notes newsletter gives everyone in Europe access to an independent, reliable and impartial source of information on topics involving industrial relations
A question for Maxime Legrand, President of CEC European Managers
What subjects are discussed in the European social partners’ consultation on quality jobs, which you plan to mobilise around?Well, CEC European Managers’ view is that there are certainly a great many subjects to be tackled at the same time. We’re planning to focus...
Towards an epilogue in the landmark case of Verizon’s EWC
Ireland’s High Court has handed down an important judgment in the case brought by Jean-Philippe Charpentier, Verizon EWC Secretary against Verizon’s management. The High Court overturned the decision pronounced on appeal by the Labour Court, which had found entirely...
A question for…Roland Erne, Professor of European Integration and Employment Relations at University College Dublin
You believe that the Court of Justice had no choice other than to uphold the directive on adequate minimum wages?In my view – and this is a political analysis rather than a legal one – the Court of Justice couldn’t follow the opinion of its Advocate General by holding...
The Commission’s work programme for 2026
On 21 October, the European Commission published its work programme 2026, supplemented by an annex setting out the timetable, the texts under discussion and the texts to be evaluated or repealed (see press release). As far as social Europe is concerned, the programme...
A question for Nayla Glaise, President of Eurocadres
You’ve just been re-elected as President of Eurocadres, by a unanimous vote at the Congress held in Paris on 15 and 16 October. What goals have you set for your new term of office?For the immediate future, Eurocadres will be focusing on the “Quality Jobs Roadmap”,...
A question for… Georg Brynjarsson, General Secretary of the Icelandic trade union Viska
Your union Viska is shaking up the Icelandic trade union landscape and has seen its membership rise by 20% in just a short time to nearly 6,000 members, it’s now the country’s 6th-largest trade union. What are the reasons behind this success? Firstly, let me say a few...
Court of Justice: employees with a disabled child
Court of Justice strengthens protection for employees who are parents of a child with disabilitiesThe EU Court of Justice has consolidated its case law on disability-related discrimination, where the disability affects an employee’s child. In a 2008 judgment, the...
A question for… Emmanuel Larue, President of IPSO, the European Central Bank (ECB) staff trade union
This summer, the media have reported that there are serious problems with social dialogue at the ECB, despite the European institutions being advocates of social dialogue and collective bargaining. Why is social dialogue at the ECB in a state of crisis?It should be...
Eurofound: a review of working conditions in the EU
On 4 September 2025, the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) published its latest Working Conditions Survey . This survey, which is based on 36,700 workers in the EU’s 27 Member States, provides a large amount of data...
A question for…Louise Collett, Syensqo European Works Council General Secretary & Global Forum Coordinator
You signed a global agreement on digital transformation and AI with Syenqo's management. How did you persuade them to grant the European Works Council a central role in the company's AI deployment?The agreement acknowledges the transformative potential of AI and...
IR Notes
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IR Notes is written by the permanent team at IR Share, including two journalists with press cards, with the support of a network of experts and national correspondents.
IR Notes is officially recognised as an ‘online press service’ under Article 1 of Law No. 86-897 of 1 August 1986 reforming the legal regime governing the press. This recognition both recognises the quality and journalistic status of IR Notes, and allows us to invoice subscriptions to IR Notes with a reduced VAT rate of 2.1% in France.
How do you ensure editorial independence?
IR Share, which publishes IR Notes, is an independent company owned in its entirety by its founder, who ensures impartiality and compliance with the rules of journalism.
IR Share does not receive any subsidies and is not supported by any stakeholder in the social dialogue. It is therefore not affiliated with any trade union, employer organisation, or political party. Our sole aim with IR Notes is to provide ‘equidistant’ and impartial information to both parties in the employment relationship on developments in legislation, case law, and social dialogue.
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IR Doc is a multilingual resource centre providing documentation on labour law and industrial relations at European Union and Member State level, including collective agreements concluded by the social partners at European, sectoral and transnational company level.
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As Eurofound’s National correspondent, IR Share provides information on working conditions, industrial relations and the labour market to support the EU institutions and bodies, Member States and social partners in shaping social Europe, as well as promoting social dialogue on the basis of comparative information and research.
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Since 2011, the European Works Councils Club has sought to co-construct the foundations of a European social dialogue that can meet the social and environmental challenges faced by transnational companies.
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