Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Employee relationsWorks councils

Why the works council works

by Personnel Today 24 May 2005
by Personnel Today 24 May 2005

Supply chain firm Wincanton Plc is the first UK plc to form a European works council (EWC) since the European Union expansion of 2004.

The core idea of a council is to allow a greater degree of employee input into the firm. Council members are consulted on trans-national issues such as economic, business and employment matters.

This is an especially important area for Wincanton, which has a presence in 12 EU states, a total that includes four of the newly-joined states.

The trigger for the firm to develop this new framework came in December 2002 when Wincanton acquired P&O’s logistics business, P&O Trans European.

This business operated in more than 200 sites and employed about 7,000 people.

The acquisition doubled Wincanton’s revenues but also led to an extensive operating expansion throughout Europe.

But the creation of a European works council is extremely complex as well as logistically demanding.

The company spent 18 months agreeing the framework of the council and is now to start selecting members from its European workforce.


Wincanton had to ensure, however, that the Council was representative of both its white collar and blue collar workers across the 12 European countries where it has a presence.

A further complication was ensuring that all those on the council had a common purpose, no easy considering the complex spread of nationalities and job types represented.

In order to accommodate these complexities, Wincanton set up a negotiating body in November 2004, with the job of outlining the Council’s parameters, as well as fianalising the election process to ensure the best spread of Councillors.


So can such a large undertaking reap benefits?

“This was done because our aim is to be the leading guys in Europe. And this meant technical and commercial changes,” says Wincanton’s HR director, Nigel Sullivan.

By his own admission, the move was extremely complicated.

“We did it for commercial reasons; to show that we’re properly pan-European,” he said. “As a result we have ‘joined up’, both internally and externally.”

The move has been welcomed by employees and unions alike. National secretary of the T&G, Ron Webb, was enthusiastic about the council and said it set a new standard within the industry.

“It highlights Wincanton’s commitment to developing a modern and inclusive relationship with its employees across Europe,” Webb said.

The formation of the works council was overseen by the specialist Information and Consultation team at Eversheds.

There seems to be a general feeling of satisfaction with the council. The question remains however, will this scheme help the firm to grow – will it mean the firm will generate more money?

“That’s a good question,” said Nigel Sullivan. “We want to grow organically in Europe by having a pan-European presence and having a strategic commercial aim.

“We want to inform and communicate with our workforce, which is 27,000 people.”

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

European Works Council legislation has been in place in the UK since the beginning of 2000.

Other directives aimed at promoting better employee relations across Europe include the Information and Consultation directive and the European Company

Personnel Today

Personnel Today articles are written by an expert team of award-winning journalists who have been covering HR and L&D for many years. Some of our content is attributed to "Personnel Today" for a number of reasons, including: when numerous authors are associated with writing or editing a piece; or when the author is unknown (particularly for older articles).

previous post
02 contact centre reflects changing times for careers
next post
Space invaders

You may also like

‘Polygamous working’ is a minefield for HR

14 May 2025

How can businesses build protections for gig workers?

7 May 2025

Ofgem workers ballot for strike action

2 May 2025

Employment Rights Bill must be tightened to protect...

1 May 2025

Four ways HR can maintain trust in uncertain...

23 Apr 2025

Uber drivers experience ‘false autonomy’ over work

16 Apr 2025

Redefining employee relations for the future of work...

27 Mar 2025

BMA employees protest over pay and recognition

19 Mar 2025

P&O Ferries scandal: Employment Rights Bill must protect...

17 Mar 2025

Handling headcount conundrums as hiring confidence dips

10 Mar 2025

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+