works council
Americannoun
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an elected body of employee representatives that deals with management regarding grievances, working conditions, wages, etc.
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a joint council or committee representing employer and employees that discusses working conditions, wages, etc., within a plant or business.
noun
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a council composed of both employer and employees convened to discuss matters of common interest concerning a factory, plant, business policy, etc, not covered by regular trade union agreements
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a body representing the workers of a plant, factory, etc, elected to negotiate with the management about working conditions, wages, etc
Etymology
Origin of works council
First recorded in 1925–30
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The works council, an elected body of employees that negotiates pay deals and working hours with management, has long been an unshakeable component of German corporate life, especially in the auto sector.
From Barron's
"We are fighting together for your jobs with the works council, with the union, and with the Berlin legislature -- I am sure that we will achieve something here".
From Barron's
Zalando said it would begin negotiations with the Erfurt works council immediately and that it has developed some support offers to assist its employees.
A works council spokesperson confirmed a first meeting had taken place but declined to comment further on the timeline.
From Reuters
Speaking at a media briefing in Cologne, the Ford site's works council head Benjamin Gruschka said workers were ready to push back against restructuring plans, without being more specific.
From Reuters
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
