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The members of the Euro-Forum posed a multitude of questions to management, ranging over a wide scale of company activities. Closest to the camera, Bernard van Cauwenbergh of SETCa, Belgium, then Gerald Reinosa of CFDT-Services, France and Jose Soares of CGTP, Portugal.

Euro-Forum, the European works council of Metro AG met in Düsseldorf on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. Much of the discussions focused on changes in technology and work organisation, which will continue to directly impact on employment and jobs. The German multinational - the fourth largest global trader after Wal-Mart, Ahold and Carrefour - continues to expand particularly with its successful cash and carry wholesale hypermarkets. 

Peter Stieger, head shop steward of Metro's German hypermarket chain Real is the president of the Euro-Forum. He lead the proceedings in Düsseldorf.

The Euro-Forum heard Mr Zygmunt Mierdorf, board member of Metro AG, present a detailed review of the company's recent developments. This was followed by a multitude of questions, ranging from the company's policies of social corporate responsibility to the possible introduction of night work. Mr Mierdorf also gave a presentation of the future application of new technologies at Metro workplaces.

Herman Hesse and Klaus Bruns both represent Ver.di, the UNI Commerce affiliate in Germany. Klaus Bruns is the head shop steward of the whole Metro Group.

After consultations with management before the meeting, the workers members of Euro-Forum refused to seat the representative, who was sent to the meeting by the Spanish Metro Cash & Carry country management. This person from the yellow 'trade union' FETICO had not been properly elected, but sent by management to replace the Spanish Euro-Forum member Gines Lopez of UNI Commerce affiliate FECOHT-CCOO.

UNI Commerce was represented at the meeting by Jan Furstenborg and Alex Rüdig. Karl-Heinz Marth participated on behalf of Ver.di.