IndustriAll Europe

16/06/2026

As EU leaders gather for the European Council on 18 June, the EU 🇪🇺China 🇨🇳 relationship is once again on the agenda. But repetition cannot substitute for strategy.

⬅️➡️Europe stands at a decisive moment: we must move beyond fragmented responses and agree on a coherent approach that defends our economic interests while upholding our core values — social progress, human rights and democracy.

⚠️ Trade unions are clear: Europe needs a genuine industrial strategy that strikes the right balance between economic security and balanced partnerships. This means equipping the EU with a robust toolbox 🧰 — effective trade defence instruments, stronger screening of foreign investment, and clear conditionalities to ensure that openness delivers tangible benefits for Europeans, starting with good industrial jobs.

Judith Kirton-Darling Isabelle Barthes

Europe stands at a crossroads in its relationship with China: cling to fragmented responses, or forge a bold, unified strategy. As dependencies deepen and industries strain, defending jobs, values, and sovereignty demands urgent, decisive action now.

15/06/2026

🚨 Europe says silicon metal is strategic. So why is it letting its production disappear?
Today, industriAll Europe and trade union representatives from Ferroglobe met with the European Commissionmission to sound the alarm on the future of silicon metal production in Europe.

Silicon metal is essential for defence, electronics, photovoltaics, chemicals and aluminium. It is officially recognised as a strategic raw material. Yet European producers and workers are being squeezed by unfair competition and market distortions, particularly from China.

The result? Plants closing, jobs at risk, and decades of industrial know-how under threat.
You cannot claim to support strategic autonomy while allowing strategic production to collapse.

Europe needs:

✅ Stronger action against dumping and unfair imports
✅ Trade policies aligned with strategic raw material objectives
✅ Support for European-made, low-carbon silicon metal
✅ Investment in jobs, skills and industrial capacity

As Judith Kirton-Darlingput it: "Europe cannot call a material strategic while allowing its production to collapse."

The clock is ticking. If Europe wants industrial sovereignty, it must defend the workers, plants and skills that make it possible.



https://news.industriall-europe.eu/Article/1536

15/06/2026

On Thursday, trade unions from across europe will gather in Madrid for the Rally organised by ETUC for Quality Jobs, Social Justice and Peace, and against deregulation and austerity

This rally is about standing up together for:
✅ Quality jobs you can live on
✅ Dignity, safety, and respect at work
✅ Fair wages and secure futures
✅ An economy that works for everyone, not just the few
✅ Adequate, decent and affordable housing for all
✅ A Europe that defends peace, multilateralism and international law
🛑 No to deregulation, including a EU Inc. / 28th regime that undermines workers’ rights and protections
🛑 No to austerity

12/06/2026

Solidarity to our affiliates IG Metall in their demonstrations today in Berlin and Völklingen In light of the crisis in the steel industry

12/06/2026

12/06/2026

At the Uilm Nazionale Congress in Italy, industriAll Europe General Secretary Judith Kirton-Darling delivered a clear message: Europe must put industry and workers at the heart of its future.

Faced with rising energy costs, geopolitical instability and accelerating industrial transformation, Europe cannot afford deindustrialisation and social decline. We need investment in clean industry, fair energy prices, quality jobs, strong collective bargaining and real worker participation.

From steel and automotive to manufacturing, the challenges are clear—but so are the solutions. Industrial renewal must be built on solidarity, social dialogue and a just transition that leaves no worker behind.

The choice is ours: industrial decline or industrial renewal, precarity or quality jobs, division or solidarity.

Together, we will continue fighting for the Europe workers deserve

https://news.industriall-europe.eu/Article/1533

11/06/2026

🚨 Ahead of next week’s vote in LIBE and Plenary on the Return Regulation, together with ETUC EFFAT European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions European Public Service Unions (EPSU) ETF - European Transport Workers' Federation UNI Europa EFBWW we call on MEPs to stand up for human rights and vote against it.

⚠️ We call on MEPs to defend fundamental rights, uphold Europe's legal obligations and reject the Return Regulation in the upcoming vote. For the European trade union movement, migration policy must be based on human dignity, social justice and respect for workers' rights, rather than coercion and exclusion.

Joint letter ahead of next week’s vote in LIBE and Plenary on the Return Regulation, asking MEPs to stand up for human rights and vote against it.

11/06/2026

Spain 🇪🇸 is among Europe’s stronger performers on the green and digital transition. But while renewable energy and digitalisation are advancing, concerns remain over industrial investment, strategic manufacturing sectors and the quality jobs needed for a Just Transition. Latest research by Syndex into the twin transitions shows that Spain must build on its progress if workers are to fully benefit from the green and digital transformation. ♻️🤖

Spain is among Europe’s stronger performers on the green and digital transition. But while renewable energy and digitalisation are advancing, concerns remain over industrial investment, strategic manufacturing sectors and the quality jobs needed for a Just Transition. Latest research by Syndex int...

10/06/2026

At IndustriALL Global Union women’s committee Judith Kirton-Darling reported on IndustriAll Europe’s work on pay transparency, gender-based violence & mainstreaming equalities in our work