Fifty years fighting for working people

By the EESC Workers' Group

A large number of members of the EESC Workers' Group participated in the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).

The celebrations took place from 23-26 May 2023 in Berlin, Germany, as part of the ETUC Congress.

The majority of trade union organisations represented within the EESC Workers' Group are affiliates of ETUC. The Workers' Group will continue to build on the cooperation with ETUC in the coming years as one of its priorities, since both are long standing natural allies in the promotion and defence of workers' interests.

Members of the Workers' Group and its new president Lucie Studničná took part in crucial talks during the Congress on issues such as trade union renewal, the future of work and the future of Europe. The issue of the upcoming EU elections was high on the agenda: trade union coordination and coordination between the Workers' Group and ETUC will be important to mobilise people to vote for progressive democrats across the EU.

Other key issues discussed included regulating artificial intelligence in the workplace, the full implementation of the Equal Pay Directive, ensuring a twin transition that is fair for all workers and increasing trade union membership as a bulwark against the rise of the far right.

The Congress elected the new ETUC leadership team. It also adopted its manifesto and the ETUC Action Programme for 2023-2027. (mg)