Areas of work

The four pillars of the EMF are Industrial Policy, Collective Bargaining Policy, Company Policy and Social Dialogue.
In this section you also find information about the Sectoral Policies as well as the Horizontal Policies of the EMF.

Anticipating and managing change is the core activity of the EMF. Under the conditions of a fast changing economic and social environment socially acceptable industrial restructuring has to be seen as a standing exercise. In this respect the restructuring issue has two aspects. One is the forward looking and continous approach of change and the other is the efficient management of urgent cases of restructuring at company and sectoral level.

EMF Organisation chart in English, German, French and Portuguese here.

Industrial Policy

Industrial policy is one of the key action areas of the EMF Work Programme from 1999. Horizontal approaches (energy, external trade, innovation, environment) and sectoral approaches (all metal sectors) are combined and seek to find a balance between developing employment and improving competitiveness. Industrial policy creates the framework for a strong European metal industry with a high level of employment.

For more information, contact Dirk Bergrath, Policy Adviser.

Collective Bargaining Policy

In order to improve working and living conditions for the metalworkers in Europe, the EMF has been working towards a European coordinated collective bargaining policy. Thus, the EMF as a federation of European metal workers' trade unions, is part of the process to create a more social Europe where there is room for a "genuine negotiation culture".

Today, the EMF's collective bargaining coordination activities and approved policy papers cover a range of subjects from wages and working time to employment policies, training and social security issues.

The EMF coordination approach is implemented in addition by regional cross-border collective bargaining partnerships, so called collective bargaining partnerships. They have been created all over Europe to let observers participate in the collective bargaining negotiations in neighbouring countries.

All of the EMF affiliates also participate in the Eucob@n Network.

For more infomation, contact Bart Samyn, Deputy General Secretary.

Company Policy

In order to establish efficient counterweight vis-à-vis multinational companies the EMF has developed a comprehensive company policy which focuses on all elements of workers’ interests in a multinational company ranging from economic and industrial development, restructuring and reorganisation and working conditions. It covers information and consultation rights at European level (European Works Council) as well as participation rights (Company Statute). At the same time the EMF supports the development of a negotiation role in multinational companies. The EMF company policy involves the European Works Councils, the workers’ representatives on company boards, the national trade unions and the EMF EWC coordinators.

For more information, contact Tony Murphy, Company Policy Director.

Social Dialogue

The Social Dialogue focuses on building lasting dialogue structures with European-level employers’ and industry associations in the metal sector.

The social dialogue is being developed at the metal sectoral level with the employers’ organisation CEEMET as well as at the level of sub-sectors such as the shipbuilding and steel industries. Through the social dialogue the EMF seeks to develop common solutions to meet the challenges of global competition and industrial change affecting the metalworking sector across Europe. The EMF strives to improve the economic and social situation of workers by reconciling the legitimate social interests of workers and the need for competitive industries.

For more information, contact Andrea Husen-Bradley, Senior Adviser.

European Commission Social Dialogue website.