Who should be informed first — the EWC or the local council/union?
During a training this week, I asked a simple question: “Who should be informed first — the EWC or the local council/union?”
The answers were all over the place. Different laws, different timelines, different realities.
And here’s what I see in practice: Local bodies often don’t receive the full picture early enough. Not because they’re not important, but because the legal framework simply doesn’t give them the same access or obligations on receiving accurate and detailed information on company plans. That’s exactly where the EWC steps in.
A Romanian representative shared a great example: Their local council was facing a sensitive situation, and the EWC Select Committee made the difference. Their experience, deeper knowledge, and direct access to senior decision-makers meant that the local council finally received the right information at the right moment. “It changed everything for us,” he said.
And that’s the power of a well-functioning EWC: It strengthens local voices by giving them what they need most — timely, relevant, and detailed local and European level information.
