30 & 31 March 2022

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER (Registration closes on Tuesday 29 March at 12pm CET)

Watch live Day One link

Watch live Day Two link

The Left Trade Union Conference in cooperation with TUNE (Trade Unionist Network Europe), Workers leading the way’ – Rights and perspectives in the green and digital transitions

The world of work is undergoing massive changes: Entire production methods are disappearing and new, more green and sustainable, production methods are emerging. Equally fast-moving and profound is the influence of artificial intelligence, robotics and digitalisation in the entire world of work. 

While governments and companies have focused on answering the questions and dilemmas arising from these rapid changes, The Left has turned its attention to one of the biggest questions that still remain open so far: What about the workers – their future, their rights and their protection?

At the annual conference with trade unions from across Europe, The Left in the European Parliament, in collaboration with Trade Unionist Network Europe (TUNE), will focus precisely on this question: how can workers contest the green and digital transition, shape it and strengthen rights and protections?

Languages: DE, EN, FR, DA, EL, ES, PT, CS, IT.

Registration for physical participation: Karola.Boger(at)ep.europa.eu

PROGRAMME

Hybrid conference: presence & remote participation possible

Wednesday 30 March 15.00-18.00

Day 1:  A socially just green transition: How to protect workers

15.00-15.15:    Welcome by Martin Schirdewan, Co-President the Left Group
and Heinz Bierbaum, TUNE

15.15-15.25:    Keynote speech: Main changes and challenges for workers and their unions- their demands and their protection in Europe   

Esther Lynch, Deputy General Secretary ETUC (European Trade Union Confederation)

15.25-16.40     The future of transition of industries, the example of the steel industry

• Which industries are specifically hard hit, and how does this change employment and the workplace?
• How do we ensure the participation of workers in the transition?
• Question & Answers

Moderator: Heinz Bierbaum, TUNE

Panel: Elspeth Harthaway, IndustriAll, Juan Blanco Blanco, CCOO, Özlem Demirel, MEP the Left Wester Van Gaal, Green Economy journalist at EUobserver

16.45-17.55    Green transition in the housing, energy renovation and construction sector

• How the green transition does affects the housing, energy renovation and construction sector and the workers involved?
• How does this transition has a severe impact on Health and Safety with a special focus on Asbestos
• Which skills and training would we need for future workers?
• Question & Answers

Moderator: Mads Bruun Pedersen, TUNE

Panel: Tom Deleu, EFBWW, Rikki Hansen, construction worker, BJMF 3F, Barbara Steenbergen, IUT (International Union of Tenants – IUT), Nikolaj Villumsen, MEP the Left

17.55h-18.00h Trade Union view on the current situation in Ukraine

Video statement by Vasyl Andreyev President of PROFBUD, Ukraine

Thursday 31 March 09.30-12.30

9.30-9.35 Welcome day 2 – TUNE

Panel 3:  Digital transition of the world of work: AI algorithms, robotics and organization of work via platforms

9.35-9.45 Keynote speech: How do these techniques change the world of work and how does this affects workers

Dr. Aline Hoffman, ETUI – European Trade Union Institute

9.45-9.55 How do these techniques change the word for work and how to protect affected workers: Presentation of the national agreement of platform-work, Spain

Luis Javier Prieto, Head negotiator for CCOO of the JustEat agreement

9.55-10.50                         

• How do we ensure the participation of workers in the transition
• What kind of education, vocational training and up-skilling is needed? 

Moderator: Yota Lazaropoulou, TUNE

Panel: Aida Ponce, ETUI, Luis Javier Prieto, CCOO, Maria Eugenia Rodriguez Palop, MEPLeft

10:50-11.05 Workers’ struggles: Working conditions in hospitals and in the healthcare sector

Nina Boehmer, nurse in Germany

Moderator: Martin Krämer

11.05-11.20 Break

11.20-12.25 What’s in the EU-pipeline – current legislative and non-legislative reports

Moderation: Albertina Pena, TUNE

Pay Transparency Directive:   Maria Eugenia Rodriguez Palop, MEP The Left

Platform workers:  Leila Chaibi (video), MEP The Left

Mental Health i. th. Dig. world of work:  Jose Gusmao (video), MEP The Left

Path to the Digital Decade: Kostas Arvanitis, MEP The Left

12.25-12.30 closing remarks: Heinz Bierbaum, TUNE

Languages: DE, EN, FR, DA, EL, ES, PT, CS, IT

Entering European Parliament´s buildings

Access to the European Parliament´s buildings is granted only upon presentation of a valid EU Digital COVID Certificate. Both digital and paper-based certificates are accepted.

Alternatively, a certificate of a negative result of a PCR test carried out in Belgium, Luxembourg or France is accepted in the same way as an EU Digital CORVID Certificate, issued by an Member State.

The result of such a test is accepted as valid for 48 hours after the PCR test was carried out.

Medical face masks or FFP2 masks covering nose and mouth must be worn when entering Parliament´s buildings and before approaching security staff at the entrance.