Workers demand a new social contract putting them at the centre of Europe’s industrial transformation, with democracy at work, collective bargaining and social conditionalities — backed by major investment in industry.
Industrial workers are not asking for charity— we are demanding a seat at the table, a stake in the future, and respect for our role as the backbone of Europe’s economy and democracy. We will be watching and listening. We won’t accept anything less.
As Commission President Ursula von der Leyen prepares to deliver her State of the Union (SOTEU) annual address to the European Parliament on 10 September, Europe’s industrial workers are calling for urgent and transformative action to safeguard their livelihoods and defend democracy in the workplace.
Across the continent, workers are facing a perfect storm: factory closures, delayed investments and shrinking demand driven by austerity and the cost-of-living crisis. Strategic dependencies on energy and components, geopolitical tensions, and the pressures of the green and digital transitions have left Europe’s industrial base vulnerable. Meanwhile, multinational corporations continue to prioritise short-term profits through cost-cutting, excessive dividends, and share buybacks—undermining long-term resilience and stripping value from European industries.
Earlier this year, 6,000 workers from across Europe rallied in Brussels with a united message: it’s time to act for good industrial jobs. Our demands are clear. We want a new social contract—one that puts workers at the heart of decision-making and industrial transformation.
Von der Leyen must use her speech to commit to workplace democracy, collective bargaining, and strong social conditionalities on all public funding and procurement. These are not abstract ideals; they are proven tools for economic success. Countries with robust democracy at work enjoy higher employment, better wages, greater income equality, and stronger productivity. Companies that engage workers and trade unions are more resilient, socially responsible, and environmentally sustainable.
Yet these gains are under threat. Recent victories for gig economy workers, equal pay, and supply chain transparency are being undermined by a deregulatory agenda disguised as “simplification.”
Attacks on workers’ rights are also intensifying at national levels. From Tesla workers in Sweden and Germany to the erosion of collective bargaining in Finland and strike restrictions in Hungary, the trend is clear: organised labour is being weakened, and democratic norms are eroding.
The Commission’s Clean Industrial Deal, published in February, acknowledged the crisis—highlighting declining demand, stalled investment, and soaring energy costs. But the proposed measures lack urgency and funding. With 90,000 automotive jobs already lost and up to 4.3 million more industrial jobs at risk, workers need more than recognition—they need action.
The contrast with the swift and well-funded “Rearm Europe” initiative is stark. If €800 billion can be mobilised for defence within days, why not for industrial renewal and social justice?
Europe stands at a crossroads. The old recipes of austerity, labour market flexibility and privatisation have failed. What’s needed now is bold leadership, investment, and a commitment to a Just Transition—where workers are not only protected but empowered to shape the future of industry.
Von der Leyen’s forthcoming SOTEU speech must rise to this moment. Industrial workers are not asking for charity— we are demanding a seat at the table, a stake in the future, and respect for our role as the backbone of Europe’s economy and democracy. We will be watching and listening. We won’t accept anything less.