works council

American  

noun

Chiefly British.

1. an elected body of employee representatives that deals with management regarding grievances, working conditions, wages, etc.

2. a joint council or committee representing employer and employees that discusses working conditions, wages, etc., within a plant or business.

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works council British  

noun

1. 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

2. a body representing the workers of a plant, factory, etc, elected to negotiate with the management about working conditions, wages, etc

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Etymology

Origin of works council

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

works council

Nationwide protests by shop stewards and works council members across the Volkswagen Group took place Thursday against reported plant closures and job cuts.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026

The head of Volkswagen’s works council, Daniela Cavallo, said in a separate statement that CEO Blume must address the workforce Friday and address the rumors.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026

"If these plans came to fruition, we would stop them with all our might", Christiane Benner, head of the powerful IG Metall union, said in a joint statement with VW works council chief Daniela Cavallo.

From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026

Tesla "is a real exception" in Germany given the absence of a union majority in the works council, said Ernesto Klengel of the Hans-Boeckler Foundation, which has close ties to the trade unions.

From Barron's ● Mar. 2, 2026

Advisory committees are also appointed to deal with special subjects, e.g. the commissions de classement which attend to questions of promotion in the various branches of the navy, the naval works council and others.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 7 "Fox, George" to "France" by Various