The worldwide banking system is at the heart of the greatest economic crisis for at least 70 years. The crisis has strongly affected a sector that had already experienced significant changes in the preceding 30 years. Structural changes in the world economy, caused by globalisation processes and
Allianz SE is an integrated financial services provider with more than 150,000 employees. The company serves approximately 75 million customers in about 70 countries. Allianz SE operates and manages its activities primarily through four operating segments: property-casualty, life/health, asset
The European Company Statute (SE) is based on the Council Regulation on the Statute for a European Company (2157/2001/EC) and on the Directive supplementing the Statute for a European Company with regard to the involvement of employees (2001/86/EC). It is one of the most important pieces of company
Transnational Framework Agreements are a new industrial relations instrument that encourages the recognition of social partnership across national borders and could lead to new forms of social regulation at global level. The rationale for taking the initiative to negotiate such agreements can be
The Foundation project ‘Attractive workplace for all: A contribution to the Lisbon Strategy at company level’ aims at identifying pioneer company practices, policies and agreements and showing how the Lisbon strategy is being implemented on the ground at company level. Examples of innovative company
In the European gas industry, Eurogas [1], the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU [2]) and the European Mine, Chemical and Energy Workers’ Federation (EMCEF [3]) have started a discussion on the impact of the ageing profile of the workforce, with many workers retiring in the next
On 11 December 2009, the Directors General for public administration of the 27 EU Member States (EU27) – representing the European Public Administration Network (EUPAN [1]) and the Trade Unions’ National and European Administration Delegation (TUNED) – met in Sweden’s capital city, Stockholm, to
In order to guarantee a return to long-term profitability, on 9 February 2010 General Motors Europe (GME [1]) announced a five-year business plan. The so-called ‘viability plan’ includes innovation and restructuring [2] processes at the European subsidiaries of General Motors (GM [3]), Opel [4] and
On 2 November 2009, the European management of the world’s largest steel company ArcelorMittal [1] and the European Metalworkers’ Federation (EMF [2]) signed a European framework agreement on managing and anticipating change at the company. The agreement will apply to the 115,000 workers [3]
In June 2005, a project on ‘Work organisation restructuring in the knowledge society’ (WORKS [1]) was launched, funded by the European Commission [2] under the Sixth Framework Programme [3]. The WORKS project analysed the impact of organisational change – taking place in the context of restructuring
The European subsidiaries of General Motors (GM [1]) – Opel [2] and Vauxhall [3] with factories in Belgium, Germany, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom (UK) – have been on the verge of financial collapse since GM declared bankruptcy in June 2009. After weeks of negotiations between various
On 11 June 2009, the management of the Thales Group [1] – the French electronic systems company – and the European Metalworkers’ Federation (EMF [2]) concluded a European framework agreement on improving professional development through effective anticipation [3] (IDEA). Built on the basis of
At the 8th Congress of the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU [1]), which took place from 8 to 11 June 2009 in Brussels, the delegates unanimously adopted a resolution entitled ‘The financial and economic crisis: Consequences for the public sector and the economy at large [2]’. The
On 26 March 2009, the European Parliament [1] adopted a resolution [2] confirming the urgent need for more social responsibility in subcontracting chains. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) want the European Commission [3] to launch an impact assessment on the added value and feasibility of a
The report on the European Private Company (EPC) Statute adopted by the European Parliament [1] on 10 March 2009 welcomes the European Commission [2] proposal for a single set of rules for establishing a company under Community law. The EPC aims to reduce costs arising from disparities between