Mr. Owen Reidy:

To be precise, I would say that Article 3 in the directive is very clear and simple. It defines collective bargaining as negotiations between employers, or a number of employer groups, with trade unions, or a number or trade unions. It stresses trade unions. Collective bargaining is not defined as an employer negotiating with a works council set up by the employer, funded by the employer and trained by the employer. It is with a trade union that is independent of the employer. That is crucial. It is clunky terminology and I appreciate a lot of people ask what it is. It is essentially workers coming together in an independent trade union engaging with their employer or a group of employers on terms and conditions of employment, and trying to create a mutually satisfactory outcome.