Already in 1996, works councils in the agricultural engineering industry in Germany have initiated a process of cooperation, exchange of informatin and experience. Today, most of the approx. 30,000 employees in this sector are represented in the "Network Agricultural Engineering".

Apart from activities like regular sector seminars and joint initiatives ("Declaration of Muenster"), which have been supported and carried out in close cooperation with the IG Metall, colleagues of the network have developed an impressive website with a lot of information about companies, sector information and other aspects of which we are documenting most of it on this web-site.

During the last years the “Network Agricultural Engineering” already has started to involve trade union and works council representatives from other European countries.However, against the acceleration process of internationalisation of the agricultural engineering sector in the context of globalisation, EU enlargement and a stronger trend towards relocation and transnational restructuring it seems to be necessary to go a step further in international cooperation and transnational employee networking.

The first phase of the “European Employee Agri-Tech-Networking” from 2007 to 2008 was initiated by the IG Metall, trade union partners in several European countries and the “Network Agricultural Engineering”.

The second phase of the network building project was officially launched in September 2009. With the EMF as the main project ccordinator, the Europan Employee Network Agricultural Machinery will continue, deepen and enlarge network buidling and improve the exchange of information among employee representatives and trade unions.

News from the EU Employee Network