IndustriAll Europe’s 4th Congress – Budapest

Over 500 trade unionists from across Europe will come together from 3 – 5 June, in Budapest, for industriAll Europe’s 4th Congress under the slogan ‘uniting workers for an industrial future’. This Congress marks the start of the next four-year mandate period for industriAll Europe

The current political climate in Hungary is tense. The right-wing government is challenging democracy, ignoring the needs of its workers, and attempting to repress trade unions. Therefore, it is a fitting time for industrial trade unions from across Europe to be in Budapest to reassert our common trade union values of democracy, equality and solidarity. It is a statement of solidarity in action for Hungarian trade unionists.

Representing 7 million workers, industriAll Europe unites 193 affiliates in the fight for sustainable, well-paid jobs, with strong workers’ rights and democracy for all. Europe’s workers are facing an era of deep uncertainty, and Europe’s industries are suffering. The legacy of austerity, high energy prices, labour market insecurity, and global instability have eroded our industries and jobs, and fuelled inequality. Multinational corporations chase short-term profits while good jobs disappear. Over-reliance on global supply chains and geopolitical turmoil have made our economies vulnerable to external shocks.

All of this has damaged people’s faith in the capacity of the European project to deliver prosperity for all and urgent action is desperately needed. Only sustainable industries providing good jobs that we can ensure prosperity for all.
That is why our next mandate period will be critically important to secure and rebuild our industrial base. This congress marks a new start renewing our efforts to strengthen our industrial sovereignty and our research and development base, in order to retain and gain technological leadership.

IndustriAll Europe stands firmly against the toxic rhetoric of those who divide workers and communities. Democracy, trade unions and worker’s rights are intricately linked. At its 4th Congress, industriAll Europe will adopt a strategic plan that sets out the organisation’s four priorities for the next mandate.

From 2025 to 2029, our focus will be on uniting industrial workers:
•    to build trade union power for strong, sustainable industrial jobs in Europe
•    for fair pay and conditions
•    for solidarity and peace
•    for a new common trade union agenda

As trade unions we must remember that solidarity is our strength. We are uniting workers for an industrial future.