Beyond Free Trade and Protectionism: Towards a New Pro-Worker Trade Policy
Claes-Mikael Ståhl and Andrew Watt
Four changes – from enforceable labour rights to seats in the boardroom – would restore democratic legitimacy to open economies.
Simpler AI Rules Must Not Mean Weaker Safety for Europe’s Workers
Claes-Mikael Ståhl and Giulio Romani
The Digital Omnibus strips machinery from the AI Act’s high-risk regime, leaving worker safeguards in limbo.
Democracy Under Siege: Trade Unions Rise as a Bulwark Against the Far Right
Trade unions are poised to defend the institutions that bind society together.
Calling Time on 24/7 Work Connectivity
The rapid development of new technologies is increasing pressure and forcing unlimited working time and growing stress among many workers across Europe.
Social dialogue: defending democracy in practice
In the face of the threat from the far right, trade unions represent democracy’s strongest supporters.
Democracy must set the standard
Standardisation of how artificial intelligence is deployed in the workplace is not a technical but a political matter.
Democracy at work and in society: populist antidote
Trade unions and other civil-society organisations are key to fending off the threat from the far right.
Time to recognise a fifth EU freedom: solidarity
Tesla’s confrontation with Swedish workers highlights how solidarity must be enabled in a globalised Europe.
EU funds need stronger social conditionality
Claes-Mikael Ståhl, Judith Kirton-Darling, Jan Willem Goudriaan, Kristjan Bragason and Oliver Roethig
The rules for allocation of EU funds should be more transparent and provide a meaningful role for the social partners.
Stress at work: countering Europe’s new pandemic
Occupational stress has become endemic. It damages workers, their families, businesses and economies.
Social dialogue must be at the heart of Europe’s future
This week the European Commission will publish a proposal to revivify social dialogue. It must be more than words.
Health and safety: Europe’s patchy commitment
Claes-Mikael Ståhl and Owen Tudor
The European Union must stop compromising on the fundamental right of workers to health and safety.
Labour shortages offer trade unions valuable opportunity
A ‘tight’ labour market is not such a bad thing for trade unions—and therefore for workers.
Sanctions on Russia: the next phase
Sanctions have so far been economic and short-term. The long-term goal of political freedom in Russia must be kept in mind.
Cutting workplace accidents and diseases to zero
The pandemic has focused attention on health and safety. But workers were already dying just trying to make a living.
EU strategic autonomy must mean fairer trade
If ‘strategic autonomy’ is to define the EU’s relation to the world, linked trade deals must not mean dependence for workers.