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… 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...
A majority of multinational companies have kept their British representatives on the EWC
At the time of Brexit, which marked the United Kingdom’s departure from the EU, any group that had established a European Works Council was obliged to adopt one of several positions, and choose: either to keep the British on board, as before; or to exclude them; or to...
A question for…Isabelle Schömann, Deputy General Secretary, European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)
Following the trilogue’s adoption of the revised text of the EWC directive on 21 May, are you satisfied with the outcome?We’ll have to wait for its final adoption by the European Parliament, which will happen in September, after the necessary checks have been made on...
White smoke after the last conclave on the revision of the EWC Directive
On 21 May 2025, negotiators from the European Parliament and the Council reached a provisional agreement on the proposal for a directive to revise legislation on European Works Councils. This decision will permit the facilitation of the creation of EWCs as well as...
A question for… Jean-Philippe Charpentier, Secretary, Verizon EWC
As the discussions continue between the Council, the Commission and Parliament (the “trilogue”) regarding revision of the European Works Council directive, what problems is Verizon’s EWC still facing?There’s still the case before the Dublin High Court, dealing with...
A new EWC for Nokia
On 30 October 2024, the management of Nokia and a special negotiating body signed a European Works Council agreement replacing the EWC that had previously operated on the basis of the directive’s subsidiary requirements. The agreement provides for the creation of a...
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