date: Mon 17 December 2001 embargo: immediate release

Attention: industrial and political correspondents

TUC welcomes EU committee agreement on information and consultation directive

Responding to the Conciliation Committee’s agreement of the EU information and consultation directive today (Monday), TUC General Secretary John Monks said:

"This measure is most welcome. The Information & Consultation Directive potentially opens the door on a whole new era in UK employment relations. The directive will eventually move us forward to a higher skilled and more highly productive workforce. Good employers have nothing to fear from informing and consulting their staff.

' There are still improvements which could be made but nothing should distract from the case for involving the workforce actively in decision making. Effective consultation helps to enhance competitive performance because employees who are being consulted are far more likely to support management plans.'

Notes to Editors:

All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

The European Council and Parliament are likely to formally adopt the directive in mid-January.

Contacts:

Media enquiries: 020 7467 1248 or email media@tuc.org.uk

Press release (200 words) issued 17 Dec 2001