Europe faces a critical crossroad as its industries grapple with restructuring, closures, and declining demand. The General Secretary of industriAll Europe, speaking to the FCE-CFDT Congress earlier today, calls for urgent action.
Workers in industrial sectors across Europe are confronted daily with the harsh realities of restructuring, plant closures, delayed investments, and falling demand. These challenges are exacerbated by austerity measures and a cost of living crisis, putting up to 4.3 million jobs at risk.
The General Secretary of industriAll Europe took the stage at the FCE-CFDT Congress in Lille, France, to shed light on these pressing issues and call for immediate action.
• Restructuring and closures threaten 4.3 million jobs
• Austerity measures heighten economic instability
• Urgent call for investment in quality industrial jobs
The General Secretary highlighted the pivotal moment in history that European industry is experiencing. Strategic dependencies on components and energy, frozen investments, a trade war, and heightened tensions on both sides of the Atlantic are just some of the factors putting extraordinary pressure on industries. The energy and industrial revolution, set against the backdrop of war in Europe, tests the strength of democratic structures and the resilience of industries.
Multinationals’ profit-maximising strategies further undermine the dynamism of industries, squeezing workers and extracting value. This has led to a decline in wage share and stagnating real wages, while Europe leads the world in dividend distribution.
Rising Far-Right threat, simplification and austerity measures
The far right is exploiting economic uncertainty to divide societies, with recent developments in the United States serving as a wake-up call. In Europe, the results of the last European Parliament elections in June 2024 revealed increased far-right presence. There are substantial attacks on recent union victories, including the Minimum Wage Directive and the duty of care in supply chains. A deregulation agenda under the guise of “simplification” threatens these wins.
Austerity measures have exacerbated precarious work, also with fatal incidents rising in nearly half of EU Member States. Austerity has not only economic costs, but also political consequences.
A New Path Forward
In her speech, the General Secretary of industriAll Europe emphasised that Europe must address the root of growing anger and fear by investing in industrial democracy and quality jobs. Decarbonisation, based on the Green Deal, remains a priority, but good industrial jobs are crucial for prosperity, peace, and political sovereignty.
Judith Kirton-Darling said: “There is no business-as-usual solution for European industry. Europe must urgently address the economic and social insecurity that is at the root of the growing anger and fear in our societies.”
She continued: “Investment and industrial democracy are antidotes to our economic instability. Decarbonisation must remain the goal, based on the Green Deal, but Europe cannot be prosperous or peaceful without good industrial jobs. Our energy and manufacturing industries are the foundation of our welfare states and social cohesion, but they are also the key to our political sovereignty.
“Europe must not be a purely economic project. Europe must also be social, that is, responding to the needs of citizens.”
She stressed that a strong and united trade union movement is essential for achieving climate goals, with politicians responsible for active economic policies and tools for a Just Transition. Europe needs an industrial policy linked to social conditionalities to maintain and create quality jobs.
The inadequacy of proposed measures contrasts starkly with the rapid deployment of the “ReArm Europe” initiative, which seeks €800 billion for military spending. More governments are recognising the critical importance of investment in energy and infrastructure for security.
A European sectoral strategy for the chemical industry is forthcoming, emphasising the need for strong social dialogue, quality jobs, and training. Europe needs a new social contract between workers, government and industry, delivering dividends for workers and ensuring their role in decision-making.
Kirton-Darling called for solidarity and collective action, urging workers and unions to strengthen alliances and fight for their victories.
Read her full speech: EN FR