• 08 March 2023 - 09 March 2023
  • Brussels/online

  • European Parliament
    Spinelli 1G2

  • Hybrid Conference

  • Cost of Living Crisis: Workers Strike Back

  • In The Left’s Trade Union conference in cooperation with TUNE (Trade Union’s Network) trade unionists from across Europe will report about workers’ actions and general strikes in France, Romania, UK and Belgium.

    Difficult times for trade unions and workers: rising energy prices, rising inflation and exploding cost of living.

    People do not know how to pay their daily bills, but the workers are fighting back - for better wages and a life in dignity for all!

    In The Left’s Trade Union conference in cooperation with TUNE (Trade Union’s Network) Thorsten Schulten (Data analyst at WSI) will analyse the economic background for the rising costs of living, and Ester Lynch, Gen. Sec. of the ETUC will present the demands of the Trade Unions.

    Trade unionists from across Europe will report about workers’ actions and general strikes in France, Romania, UK and Belgium.

    The conference will finish with 10 strong demands of workers and trade unions to national and European politicians.

    Interpretation provided in DE, EN, FR, DA, EL, ES, PT

    Watch the recordings of the conference here.

Programme

Wednesday, 8 March 2023

15:00-15:15 (CET): Welcome 

Speakers:

  • Martin Schirdewan, Co-president of the Left
  • Heinz Bierbaum, TUNE

Guest speaker – 8 March: International Women’s Day:

  • Livia Spera, General Secretary of ETF (European Transport Workers´ Federation)

15:20-16:45 (CET): Crises: cost of living, rising energy prices, inflation

Speakers:

  • Thorsten Schulten, Data-analyst at WSI - economic background and the development of the cost of living
  • Esther Lynch, General Secretary of ETUC (European Trade Union Confederation) outlining actions and proposals to confront the crisis

Moderation:

  • Aline Hoffmann, ETUI

17:00-18:30 (CET): What is in the EU pipeline?

Speakers:

  • Leila Chaibi, MEP - Directive on Platform Work
  • Maria Eugenia Rodriguez Palop, MEP (video) - Directive on Pay Transparency
  • Nikolaj Villumsen, MEP - Directive on Asbestos
  • Kostas Arvanitis, MEP - Migration Package: Long-Term-Residence-Directive + Single-Permit Directive
  • Jose Gusmao, MEP - Initiative-report on a Framework for Quality Traineeship

Moderation:

  • Martin Krämer, TUNE

Thursday, 9 March 2023

9:00-11:15 (CET): Ongoing workers’ actions and general strikes

Speakers:

  • Trade Unionists from France, UK, Romania, Belgium and some other Member States  will report on ongoing workers struggles for better wages and/ or other working conditions

Moderation:

  • Yota Lazaropoulou, TUNE

11.30-12.15 (CET): Workers’ struggles: a future to win and common requests

Guest speaker:

  • Walter Baier, President of the Party of the European Left

11:35-12:15 (CET): “10 demands for the future of workers” – to the national and European politicians

Speakers:

  • Özlem Demirel, MEP
  • Nikolaj Villumsen, MEP
  • Enrique Carmona, TUNE

Moderation:

  • Peter Damo, TUNE

12:15-12:30 (CET): Closing remarks

Speaker:

  • Heinz Bierbaum, TUNE
  • Tag Pictogram

  • Tags

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