IndustriAll Europe elects its leadership team for 2025-2029

Judith Kirton-Darling became General Secretary of industriAll Europe in February 2024, succeeding Luc Triangle. A former MEP for North East England (2014-2020), she has a long history in the Labour and trade union movement. She was elected Confederal Secretary of the ETUC in 2011 and previously worked for the European Metalworkers’ Federation (EMF). In July 2021, she was elected Deputy General Secretary of industriAll Europe.

Isabelle Barthès joined the European Metalworkers’ Federation in 1996. At EMF and later as a senior policy adviser of industriAll Europe, she was responsible for a range of key policy areas, notably company policy as well as collective bargaining and social policy. In July 2021, Isabelle was elected Deputy General Secretary of industriAll Europe at its 3rd Congress.

Michael Vassiliadis is the President of the German Industrial Union of Mining, Chemical and Energy (IG BCE). Michael has held the elected post of industriAll Europe President since 2012.

Judith Kirton-Darling:

“This work is not a nine-to-five job — it’s a deep commitment to the workers and communities we represent. Just Transition is not a slogan or a technocratic concept for us; it’s a radical vision of worker empowerment and strong collective bargaining. It means learning from the past, breaking the cycle of brutal restructuring, and ensuring that industrial change delivers for all.

“In the next 4 years, we have to fight and ensure that industrial policy is not a blank cheque for employers — it must bring real dividends for workers and their communities. That’s why we are calling for social conditionalities: a new social contract between industry, government, and working people. And only a strong, united trade union movement can fight for and win that contract. Building trade union power must therefore remain the guiding principle for industriAll Europe and its 180 member organisations representing 7 million workers.”

Isabelle Barthès:

“It is an immense honour to have been re-elected as Deputy General Secretary.

“In the next four years, we must redouble our efforts, stand united, and strengthen our mobilisation. We will defend what we’ve achieved, build Trade Union Power, and reinforce social dialogue and collective bargaining — the core work of trade unions and key to a fair industrial transformation. As attacks on workers’ and trade union rights intensify, our fight is clear: it is a fight for democracy, solidarity, and equality. Democracy is under threat across Europe. And democracy begins at work, by giving every worker a voice. Our fight is a fight for democracy, and it will be at the heart of all we do in the next 4 years.”

Michael Vassiliadis:

“In the current crisis, it is crucial that the European trade union movement stands together, builds networks and takes a clear stand. Together, we bear responsibility for millions of workers on our continent. We are the driving force behind a European future based on democracy, prosperity and good industrial work.

“The importance of our work is evident here in Budapest – a place where freedom and democracy are under pressure. This is a development that we are also seeing in other parts of Europe – and one that we must resolutely combat. Our response is clear: we remain united, courageous and strong. Together, we are the protective power of our members – and of our democracies.”