Sparks fly over corporate structural change

On 17 May 2001 a mass protest of European trade union leaders and staff from Marks and Spencer's stores in the UK, France and Belgium, took place outside Marks and Spencer's headquarters in London. Marks and Spencer failed to consult its European staff before closing down all its mainland European stores. The whole issue provides further justification in the eyes of UK trade unions for the introduction of EU regulation which would require employers with fifty or more staff to inform and consult their employees on a regular basis. Anna Diamantopoulou, European Commissioner for Employment, would like to see the EU information and consultation directive accepted across all Member States as soon as possible.