We Work Europe

Factories that used to manufacture trains or steel are now being used by the arms industry. Companies such as Rheinmetall, Thales and Leonardo are offering workers new jobs. Consulting firms promise an economic boost thanks to investments in rearmament. However, economist Nan Tian of SIPRI is sceptical. From an economic perspective, he argues against these investments. They would be better spent on infrastructure, healthcare or education. Matteo Bracciali, vice-president of ACLI (the Christian Association of Italian Workers), also criticises the EU's approach to spending. He suggests a unified European army and much less money for military purposes. According to Bracciali and his organisation, peace is created by establishing institutions of peace. With the Caravan of Peace, a mobile information station, he toured Italy to promote peaceful thinking. Find more on this topic in the latest issue of the EZA Magazine.

In a 2025 press conference, EU president Ursula von der Leyen claimed that we are living in an era of rearmament. Consequently, Europe must invest more in defence and security. An EU-wide strategy would be highly effective, according to Annegret Bendiek, a political scientist at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. However, the EU's strength is also its weakness: its 27 members do not always agree on everything. Meanwhile, questions are being asked about whether powering the arms industry brings security and peace. Scientists such as Nan Tian of SIPRI advocate a different approach. Find more on this topic in the latest issue of the EZA Magazine.

In February 2022, Russia attacked Ukraine. Since then, many people have lost their lives and large parts of the country have been destroyed. The population continues to fight back to this day, while also trying to lead normal lives. Meet Lyudmyla Vysotska, a kindergarten teacher in Lviv, who juggles her work with children with the constant pressure of having family on the front line. Eleanor Hitchman, a psychologist at the International Committee of the Red Cross, manages her organisation's mental health programmes in Ukraine, but faces structural challenges. Find more on this topic in the latest issue of the EZA Magazine.

Reducing working hours is a phenomenon that started in the 20th century. The third and final episode of this mini-series focuses on science. At the University of Münster, Germany, Julia Backmann and her team research the impact of the four-day-work week. She has conducted an experiment with dozens of organizations that have reduced working hours. Her results are in favor of this model and in line with studies all around the world. Reducing working hours may be a challenge at first, but not only workers but also employers can benefit from it.

For Giorgos Valasis a regular work week consists of 6 days. After his shift as a bus driver in Athens he finds himself constantly exhausted. He’s frightened by the fact that his government passed a law to enable 13 hours per day. While Giorgios and a lot of his working colleges take this fight into the streets of Athens to prevent the liberalisation of working hours, a German CEO changed his company to four-day-working-week. In this second episode, Carsten Graf tells his story of how he has changed the structure of his business and what has changed since then.

Questioning working time has always been a big issue for both workers and employers. In a three-part series of We Work Europe, we take a closer look at different models. The first episode follows the Greek government’s attempt to increase working time. It’s purpose is to fight the shortage of skilled workforce as well as undeclared work. Deputy minister of labour and social security, Konstantinos Karagkounis, explains how changed legislation might bring new opportunities to its country. On the other hand there is Antonis Karras, president of one of Greece’s largest trade unions DAKE, an EZA member. He believes new laws will weaken the position of workers.

What happens when you wait 25 years for EU membership – and are still told you’re not ready? In this episode, we look at Bosnia and Herzegovina, where hopes for accession remain high but frustrations are growing. We hear from politicians and experts about stalled reforms, mass emigration, and the risk of losing the country’s future to other powers. Can Bosnia still find its place in the European Union – and what lessons can be drawn from past enlargements?

On his 34th birthday in 1989, Dr. Konstantin Trenchev helped found Bulgaria’s first independent trade union – PODKREPA. What began as a small act of defiance soon turned into a movement that shaped Bulgaria’s path to democracy and EU accession. In this episode, we revisit the turbulent years around the fall of communism, the struggles of early trade unionists, and the promises and pitfalls of Bulgaria’s journey into the European Union. What lessons remain from this era – and how do they echo in today’s Europe?

What happens when the promise of prosperity in the EU doesn’t match reality? In this first episode, we start in Sofia, Bulgaria, where strikes and low wages reveal the frustrations of many citizens. We hear from journalists, union leaders, and researchers about the struggles of EU integration, the rising cost of living, and why the expected “convergence” never fully arrived. Join us as we explore the hopes, challenges, and disappointments of countries that joined the EU in 2004 and 2007 – and ask whether their concerns are justified, and what trade unions and politics can do today.

In the final episode of "Inside Gen Z," we explore how trade unions are working to engage young people in the labor market. Despite a general lack of awareness about unions among youth, initiatives like the CNV's youth department in the Netherlands and Krifa's TikTok presence in Denmark aim to attract younger members. Through real-life examples, including the successful unionization of Starbucks employees, we see the power of social media and grassroots movements. Experts emphasize the importance of listening to Gen Z's demands and collaborating with them to create a better future for all workers.

The second episode of "Inside Gen Z" delves into common prejudices, such as the belief that Gen Z is lazy or unwilling to work. Contrary to these stereotypes, studies reveal that Gen Z is actually more committed and engaged than previous generations. Experts like Helle Stenbro and Wouter Vandenabeele discuss the origins of these misconceptions and emphasize the importance of understanding individual life stages over broad generational labels. Tune in to explore the complexities of Gen Z and the impact of stereotypes in the workplace.

In the first episode of "Inside Gen Z", a three-part series by We Work Europe, you will meet Barbara Mogensen, a 22-year-old student from Denmark, who shares her own journey, including her recent departure from a part-time job in the software industry and her commitment to her podcast "Espresso Yourself", where she interviews various professionals about their career paths. This episode explores Generation Z's desire for meaningful work, the criticism they face and the evolving job market. Marketing experts Eileen Droß and Michelle Muller highlight the need for companies to adapt to attract young talent and the importance of cross-generational collaboration, setting the stage for understanding Gen Z's impact on the future of work.

In the last instalment of our three-part series on sexualised violence in the workplace, we take a look at the legislation and why things have changed recently. We talk to Victor Hugo Ricco from the ILO about Convention 190, which for the first time addresses sexualised violence in the workplace internationally. And we talk to Evin Incir from the EU Parliament about the directive on gender-based violence against women from April 2024. Both pieces of legislation are categorised at the end from a trade union perspective.

In this second episode, we take a closer look at the results of a study investigating sexualised violence in the academic environment. The figures are shocking, but also explainable, says researcher Anne Laure Humbert, who worked on the study. In addition, another woman reports on her experiences of sexualised violence in the workplace and a trade unionist gives tips on how every colleague can become an ally for those affected.

Adela S. from Spain has sued her former boss, who systematically harassed her and six female colleagues for sexist reasons. This is not an isolated case, as sexualised violence in the workplace is omnipresent. In this episode, we delve into this complex topic, talk to psychologists, a manager of a women's refuge and discuss ways of escaping the spiral of violence in the workplace.

In this final episode of our three-part series, we follow Leonard Müller, a Lieferando rider in Berlin, as he navigates a challenging works council election, despite the company’s attempts to cancel it. We also explore the legal fight for platform workers’ rights in other countries, with perspectives from trade unionists Veit Groß, Martin Willems, and Luigi Mansi, who successfully negotiated a national collective agreement for Just Eat workers in Italy. Dennis Radtke, a member of the European Parliament and shadow rapporteur of the new EU directive, discusses the potential of the directive, aimed at improving working conditions for platform employees across Europe.

The pressure of ratings: In the second episode of this three-part series we delve into the world of platform company ratings. While some companies appear to offer fair working conditions, deeper inspection often reveals they merely meet the minimum standards. We speak with Tobias Kuttler from Fair Work, who evaluates platforms on fairness, and Giada Gerotto from Creative Words, a translation platform in Italy, to explore the struggles and successes of improving platform work conditions across the EU.

Plaform work with decent working conditions: Is it possible? In the first episode of this three-part series we follow Leonard Müller, a food courier for Lieferando in Berlin, and explore the realities of gig work. With over 30 million platform workers in the EU, this episode uncovers the unpredictable pay and lack of protections that characterize the gig economy. Trade unionist Martin Willems, from Belgium’s ACV-CSC, dives into the labour rights challenges and the ongoing fight for fair regulations across Europe.

When it comes to health and safety in the workplace, many people think of air quality, noise pollution or lack of exercise. But digital technologies also have a significant influence on this. In this episode, we talk about the opportunities but also the challenges with Natalie Lotzmann and Patricia O'Callaghan, who are responsible for precisely this at the European software giant SAP. And we present the EU-OSHA campaign, which is dedicated to this very topic until 2025. EZA is a proud campaign partner.

This episode is a deep dive into the upcoming European elections and the rise of populism in various member states. Join us as we explore key insights from Austria, Spain, and Denmark, examining political strategies, voter sentiments, and the impact on crucial issues like equality, worker rights, and social well-being. Hear from experts and union representatives of the EZA network as they share their perspectives and predictions for the future direction of Europe.

This episode is a shortened interview with Daphne Halikiopoulou, chair in comparative politics at the University of York. She talks about the rise of far-right parties and their strategies in European politics. In the interview Daphne Halikiopoulou explores normalization tactics and the influence of populist rhetoric, alongside the Danish paradox.

In the recent past, Croatia has experienced several waves of emigration. Critics claim that the next wave is imminent, triggered by a shortage of skilled labour in richer EU member states and the digital and green transformation that the EU has agreed on. One way to mitigate the potential ripple effect could be to create incentives - in living and working conditions. In this episode, we follow a young entrepreneur who is investing in his education to be prepared for the future.

In this two-part programme, we take a look at the upcoming European Parliament elections and the growing influence of right-wing populist and far-right parties. In the second episode, we talk about the ideological and socio-political attitudes that underpin right-wing populism. We also want to examine the extent to which this could block the work of the EU Parliament and what impact this could have on the future social policy direction of the EU.

In this two-part programme, we take a look at the upcoming European Parliament elections and the growing influence of right-wing populist and far-right parties. In the first episode, we ask ourselves what impact right-wing populists have once they are in power. To do this, we travel to Italy and take a closer look at some of the social policy measures of Giorgia Meloni's government.

In this episode we’ll talk about an issue, that doesn’t get much attention although it affects so many among us. We’ll talk about disability and chronic illness – and especially about women and girls with disability and chronic illness. This group of people is estimated to be the most marginalized group in the labour market and is continuously threatened by poverty and exclusion from society. But: There are eager women and men trying to change this situation to get women and girls into good jobs. And we’re going to show you how they do so.

Now in autumn, the main season of tourism in Southern Europe is already over. 2023 was also a season massively marked by climate events: forest fires, drought, heavy rain. These effects were also felt during our visit to Portugal in May. So the future of tourism must become more sustainable. And that is not only good for nature, but also for workers. A visit to the Algarve in Portugal looks at how sustainable tourism can improve working conditions and which problems this sector is facing.

In order to fight inflation in the EU, the ECB has raised the key interest rate several times. But it is precisely these interest rate hikes that could have a negative impact on workers and small and medium-sized enterprises. In this episode we talk to experts from NGOs, trade unions and politicians about the rate hikes, the ECB's role, the impact of the rate hike and a possible downward spiral in wages.

This is the second episode of EZA's two-parter on due diligence and Europe's responsibility in in international supply chains. Almost exactly 10 years ago, the Rana Plaza textile factory in Bangladesh collapsed and claimed more than 1000 lives. Although this accident was not the first in a textile factory for international mass production, the circumstances and dimensions of the disaster drew attention to the production of clothing and triggered a wide-ranging debate on grievances in the global textile industry. below-average wages, excessively long working days and hardly any free time, unprotected handling of chemicals and a lack of fire safety regulations are just some of the problems in the industry. Today we are talking about responsibility. In a two-part episode, we look at who takes responsibility in business and how the EU wants to ensure that human rights and the environment are respected along the entire supply chain. This is the second part of the "We Work Europe" two-parter on due diligence.

Almost exactly 10 years ago, the Rana Plaza textile factory in Bangladesh collapsed and claimed more than 1000 lives. Although this accident was not the first in a textile factory for international mass production, the circumstances and dimensions of the disaster drew attention to the production of clothing and triggered a wide-ranging debate on grievances in the global textile industry. below-average wages, excessively long working days and hardly any free time, unprotected handling of chemicals and a lack of fire safety regulations are just some of the problems in the industry. But the textile industry is not the only sector facing these accusations: from natural stones to rare earths. Today we are talking about responsibility. In a two-part episode, we look at who takes responsibility in business and how the EU wants to ensure that human rights and the environment are respected along the entire supply chain. This is the first part of the "We Work Europe" two-parter on due diligence.

Before the war against Ukraine Moldova wasn’t on the radar of many people. This has changed dramatically. Since the Country has reached EU-Candidacy-status, EZA has reached out to trade unions there. In this episode of We Work Europe, you will get an impression of the challenges the small country has to face. It's about the influence of Russia, the state of social dialogue and the hope that a better future lies ahead with Moldova through EU integration.

Dennis Radtke (EPP) and Agnes Jongerius (S&D) are members of the European Parliament. Although they are in different parties they agree when it comes to minimum wages. In fact, they have been working together as co-rapporteurs for the directive on adequate minimum wages in the European Union: They were responsible for drawing up a report with amendment proposals to the Parliament’s Committee on Employment and had to present this report to the plenary; subsequently, they also represented the European Parliament in the negotiations between the Parliament and the Council. That directive was adopted by the European Parliament and the Council in October 2022. Member states now have two years‘ time to transpose its content into national law. This initiative is a big step for fighting in-work poverty and exploitation and constitutes major progress in implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights. In this episode we talk with Dennis Radtke and Agnes Jongerius about the content of the directive and it’s impact on workers in the EU.

KRIFA’s transition didn’t come out of the blue. In fact, they invested large sums into research. The findings seem to support KRIFA’s strategy as a service provider for a full work-life. There is one keyword which the Danes want to promote: Meaningfulness. Because they argue that having a meaningful job isn’t just good for your health but it’s also enriching society. In this episode you’ll find out how all these things are connected.

Since 2015 the Danish trade union KRIFA is in a huge transition. They want to reinvent themselves as a new service provider for well-being at work. However, many critics argue that KRIFA has given up what characterizes a trade union. The question remains how a labour organization can stay relevant in a country which has one of the highest developed social systems on earth. Time for a visit what could be trade union 2.0.

Four out of five goods are delivered to your home in a truck. Igor is one of those people driving a truck. He spends three months in the cabin of his vehicle in order to spend one week with his family in Kaunas, Lithuania. Igor is member of the trade union Solidarumas whose purpose is to assist drivers in need. In this episode you will listen to perspectives on road transportation from Igor, his family, representatives from Solidarumas and from the European Labour Authority.

Christa Schweng is President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). This institution is a consultative body of the EU. It describes itself as a bridge between Europe and organized civil society. In the interview we talked about the impact of the war in Ukraine on the EESC, about the role of youth in the EU and about the conference on the future of Europe.

Bulgaria’s population is shrinking. For decades people at working age are emigrating the country in hope for better working conditions and higher wages abroad. Some sectors like healthcare are dearly needed, yet the payments there stay on a low level. Protests increase, while trade unions like Podkrepa, a member of the EZA network, try to negotiate between workers, employers and the government. An episode about job perspectives in Bulgaria.

It’s something, that makes the EU unique. Its sophisticated design of the welfare state protects us from the risks of life such as unemployment, illness, and aging. Some people argue it’s too expensive and its funding inhibits economic growth. Scientists from HIVA and EUROFOUND would strongly disagree. In this episode, we’ll find out that the contrary is true. The welfare state is an economic and social advantage, and we should put lots of effort into reinforcing it.

Millions of products are just a mouse click away. It just takes us one or two days of waiting until we’ll get our product delivered by Amazon. It’s a comfortable system for us as customers. But how about the people working there? In this episode, we talk to Ellen Reese and Jake Alimahomed-Wilson who published a book about Amazon’s system: The Cost of Free Shipping – Amazon in the Global Economy. We also listen to the insights of Norbert Faltin, a former works council at Amazon to find out how dangerous Amazon is for workers but also for the democracy of Europe.

England is the motherland of industry and workers as we know them. Especially the north of the country is very proud of this heritage. However, due to Brexit and deregulation, times get harder and harder for workers. We’ll travel to the EZA-member St. Antony’s Centre in Manchester and Blackpool to find out how Brexit has dramatically affected social cohesion in the UK.