The event, organised by OZ KOVO and industriAll Europe, and co-financed by the EU Commission, under the Putting Trade Union Power into European Batteries project, focused on building a strong union presence in new battery workplaces – especially at companies like InoBat, Kia, VW, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), Hella, and Mobis.

“Workers in the battery sector will be key for Europe's green transition, but they must not be left behind. If we want the green and digital transitions to deliver good, secure jobs, we need strong unions from the ground up", said Judith Kirton-Darling, General Secretary of industriAll Europe. "Organising battery workers is not only about improving conditions locally, it’s about shaping a fair and sustainable European economy based on social dialogue and strong collective bargaining structures in the European battery supply chain."

The workshop emphasised the importance of mapping the full supply chain – from cell production to assembly. 

OZ KOVO plan to target battery cell customers, like Kia, VW and JLR, which rely on new Slovak production for their electric vehicles. "Where the batteries go, workers must have union protection too", the workshop stressed.

Participants also learned how to use digital tools such as ChatGPT and social media campaigns to reach workers more effectively.

"Our unions must reach workers in the new battery factories early and build union power from the bottom up", said Monika Benedeková from OZ KOVO. "The Slovak battery industry is growing, and we must make sure workers have a voice from the start. New digital organising tools can help us to be faster, smarter, and closer to workers’ real concerns."

Each company team designed small organising campaigns during the workshop. Plans included online surveys about workplace issues, polls and social media actions to build visibility, and using AI tools to create leaflets, videos and communications for workers.

By the end of 2025, these local campaigns will be rolled out across key battery-related workplaces in Slovakia.

The Bratislava workshop is part of a wider European strategy of industriAll Europe to organise the battery sector from the ground up, ensuring the Just Transition promised under the European Green Deal delivers for workers and communities across Europe.

For more information about the BatteryTUPower project, please contact industriAll Europe and visit the website here.