Works council
A works council is a shop-floor organization representing workers that functions as a local/firm-level complement to trade unions but is independent of these at least in some countries. Works councils exist with different names in a variety of related forms in a number of European countries, including the United Kingdom (Joint Consultative Committee or Employees’ Council); Germany and Austria (Betriebsrat, Personalvertretung); Luxembourg (comité mixte, délégation du personnel); the Netherlands (Ondernemingsraad, Personeelsvertegenwoordiging) and Flanders in Belgium (Ondernemingsraad); Italy (comitato aziendale); France (Comité Social et Économique); Wallonia in Belgium (conseil d'entreprise), Spain (comité de empresa) and Denmark (samarbejdsudvalg).