International: Unions call for emergency EWC meetings to discuss financial crisis

On 30 September 2008, Uni-Europa Finance, the European-level body representing finance workers' trade unions, called for immediate meetings of all European Works Councils (EWCs) in banking and insurance multinationals to discuss the impact of the current crisis in the sector.

There are 51 EWCs in finance multinationals operating in Europe, including many of the banks and insurance companies that have been the subject of emergency bail-outs or involved in enforced mergers and acquisitions in recent weeks, such as the Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds TSB, Fortis, Dexia and Santander.