The EWC as a tool for personal empowerment (blog 2/25)
25 years European Works Council Directive ánd 25 years EWC Service
“If I would not have been a member of the EWC and the Select Committee, I would never have taken the step to become a politician”, a Polish EWC member told me three years ago. Now he is mayor of a small Polish town.
We are often not aware, but being a member of the European Works Council is a huge learning experience. In working in diverse groups, with people from so many different backgrounds, training in communication skills and learning about all aspects of your company, you will gain a lot of skills and knowledge. Sometimes you also need to be courageous to bring employees’ issues across in discussion with company management. To be confrontational can be far beyond your comfort zone, but you will surely learn a lot and develop yourself.
Apart from the Polish mayor (whom I still miss as EWC member), we also personally know a French and Norwegian deputy mayor and many more examples of EWC members that were offered new and interesting jobs, since they developed themselves to active, skilled and knowledgeable employee representatives. Go for it, EWC members!
Mariëlle van der Coelen, EWC trainer and advisor
How did the EWC empower you? Please share your experience.
