Over the past months, IndustriAll Europe and IndustriALL Global Union have brought together trade unionists from across Europe and beyond for a series of sectoral workshops on Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD). The final session in Madrid brought trade unionists from the automotive sector together to exchange on current practices and debate on strategy and collective ambition.
In a political climate where EU corporate due diligence legislation is under pressure, this workshop offered hope and energy. What began as awareness-raising has quickly evolved into debates on focused strategic engagement. The participants actively discussed issues like risk prioritisation, negotiated action plans, and effective grievance mechanisms in complex global value chains.
The atmosphere in Madrid was passionate and determined, exactly what is needed when we talk about workers’ rights, decent work, and corporate accountability. The message to EU policymakers is clear: listen to workers’ voices and hold companies accountable. Workers’ rights are not red tape. They are the foundation of fair and sustainable business.
This workshop series is part of a broader project by IndustriAll Europe and Global. The next phase is already in motion: turning these insights into practical, action-oriented tools and guidance to reinforce union strategies at company level.