On 28 January, the European Parliament’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs adopted a resolution urging the European Commission to propose a comprehensive Just Transition Directive that facilitates the timely and meaningful involvement of workers and their trade unions in the anticipation and management of change.
The resolution picks up on a number of core demands that industriAll Europe established during its recent campaigns on Just Transition and Industrial Policy for Good Industrial Jobs.
It emphasises the critical need for a fair and equitable distribution of the burdens associated with the twin transition to manage change effectively. The Committee stresses that workers' voices must be heard during discussions about restructuring and transformation, advocating for robust social dialogue between the parties, and guaranteeing fair wages and decent working conditions.
The resolution further calls for the promotion of collective bargaining, including green collective bargaining, which would see negotiable clauses between social partners to foster agreements that ensure sustainable, fair employment practices, while simultaneously tackling environmental goals.
Judith Kirton-Darling, industriAll Europe’s General Secretary said: “This motion supports our demand for a legislative framework for the anticipation and management of change from our Just Transition Manifesto. The failed attempt to negotiate a Just Transition in the gas sector teaches us that only through binding rules can we ensure that workers are involved early on in the transition of their companies and not only once the decision has been taken”.
In addition, the Committee is advocating for a renewed European industrial policy that prioritises the creation of quality jobs in new emerging sectors. To support these initiatives, the Committee also calls for the establishment of a permanent investment tool to ensure that consistent and sufficient resources are allocated to the development of all industrial sectors, aiding their transition while retaining competitiveness.
The resolution also stresses the importance of ensuring that no worker is left behind in the transition to a more sustainable economy. It proposes a right to job-to-job transition, which includes access to no-cost training and high-quality upskilling and reskilling programmes. These initiatives would provide workers with the tools they need to transition into new roles by supporting their career development throughout the change.
Additionally, the proposal includes a potential moratorium on forced redundancies, offering workers a safety net during periods of transition and restructuring.
With this resolution, the Committee seeks to ensure that Europe’s green and digital transitions are not only environmentally sustainable, but also socially just, by protecting workers’ rights and ensuring their active participation in shaping the future of industry.
“To achieve the transition, we need strong support from the European institutions to ensure investments are following the right path to build high-quality jobs. In line with the report, we expect the upcoming Clean Industrial Deal to provide for proactive, socially responsible industrial policy tools, and to introduce social conditionalities on public support and public procurement. Workers’ rights have to be protected and promoted”, - Judith Kirton-Darling added.
5 February: Join Us in Brussels to defend Europe's Industrial Future
The resolution picks up on a number of core demands that industriAll Europe established during its recent campaigns on Just Transition and Industrial Policy for Good Industrial Jobs.
It emphasises the critical need for a fair and equitable distribution of the burdens associated with the twin transition to manage change effectively. The Committee stresses that workers' voices must be heard during discussions about restructuring and transformation, advocating for robust social dialogue between the parties, and guaranteeing fair wages and decent working conditions.
The resolution further calls for the promotion of collective bargaining, including green collective bargaining, which would see negotiable clauses between social partners to foster agreements that ensure sustainable, fair employment practices, while simultaneously tackling environmental goals.
Judith Kirton-Darling, industriAll Europe’s General Secretary said: “This motion supports our demand for a legislative framework for the anticipation and management of change from our Just Transition Manifesto. The failed attempt to negotiate a Just Transition in the gas sector teaches us that only through binding rules can we ensure that workers are involved early on in the transition of their companies and not only once the decision has been taken”.
In addition, the Committee is advocating for a renewed European industrial policy that prioritises the creation of quality jobs in new emerging sectors. To support these initiatives, the Committee also calls for the establishment of a permanent investment tool to ensure that consistent and sufficient resources are allocated to the development of all industrial sectors, aiding their transition while retaining competitiveness.
The resolution also stresses the importance of ensuring that no worker is left behind in the transition to a more sustainable economy. It proposes a right to job-to-job transition, which includes access to no-cost training and high-quality upskilling and reskilling programmes. These initiatives would provide workers with the tools they need to transition into new roles by supporting their career development throughout the change.
Additionally, the proposal includes a potential moratorium on forced redundancies, offering workers a safety net during periods of transition and restructuring.
With this resolution, the Committee seeks to ensure that Europe’s green and digital transitions are not only environmentally sustainable, but also socially just, by protecting workers’ rights and ensuring their active participation in shaping the future of industry.
“To achieve the transition, we need strong support from the European institutions to ensure investments are following the right path to build high-quality jobs. In line with the report, we expect the upcoming Clean Industrial Deal to provide for proactive, socially responsible industrial policy tools, and to introduce social conditionalities on public support and public procurement. Workers’ rights have to be protected and promoted”, - Judith Kirton-Darling added.
5 February: Join Us in Brussels to defend Europe's Industrial Future