Dedalus and Arianna

«It’s like a chess game. Every move calls for a new one and it all ends up in a general change of scenario deriving from a precise strategy. That’s how it works with multinational corporations. What happens in Italy also affects Poland. And then, France, Germany… Being a member of an EWC means seeing all this from up close. I like it. I need it to get an idea about things. And especially to understand why things happen.»

There’s another aspect that Andrea Capelli, employee of Solvay, considers important in his role inside the EWC: managing to bring the Italian experience to Europe, before the foreign delegates. The presence of our country is quite scarce in the Councils’ restricted meetings. Seizing opportunities is essential. «I try to do my bit» he says. In Brussels, but also from Italy. Capelli is among the promoters of a national coordination body made up of Solvay and of the trade union representatives of all the company’s venues. All members meet once a year to take stock of the situation. Unofficial meetings are also planned besides official ones that contribute to creating a good environment and fostering dialogue. «The initiative raised a deep interest also beyond national borders. It is now a well-established experience – we reached our sixth edition – and the other countries are asking us for details about its organization. The best thing for the future would be to move from one to two annual appointments.»

All this means hard work because, as Capelli reminds us, networking requires sustained efforts. Yet it’s worth it. «Good ideas and inspirations spring from the contact with others. Take France, for example. Works Councils can be supported by an expert helping them interpret the financial aspects of the work. Everything is paid for by the company. Knowing figures means being ahead of the game. At the meetings, the French delegates always go into details. They manage to make things hard for the company. Also in Italy, it wouldn’t hurt to do some training on financial and economic aspects.» Capelli speaks clearly, but he doesn’t provide any clear opinion. The concept of difference has many facets. Sometimes it’s a limit, especially when applied at transnational level. «We should speak with one voice, but that’s not always easy to do. We are different. The European Union…» We stop him to ask: could the birth of a real European trade union movement contribute to achieving civil and political unity between states? «Yes – he replies – but not on its own. It’s not easy. But we believe in it.»