EMPL priorities begin to take shape
Leadership elected with more to come.
Yesterday (23/07) the European Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) committee elected their chair and vice-chairs for the coming mandate. In a move that bodes well for European workers, the Left Group’s Li Andersson (FI) was elected to lead the committee, while the Constitutive meeting also saw Johan Danielsson (S&D, SE), Jagna Marczułajtis-Walczak (EPP, PL) and Katrin Langensiepen (Greens/EFA, DE) elected vice-chairs. The fourth vacancy will be filled during the September 4th meeting.
Having met with MEPs Andersson and Danielsson in Strasbourg during the July plenary session, we are particularly pleased that both have been elected to these roles, and are confident that they will put forward a progressive agenda in the coming years. Given their respective views, experience and expertise, we are confident in advancing discussions around mental health, telework & the right to disconnect, artificial intelligence, social dialogue and other priorities around working conditions.
President Nayla Glaise with EMPL Committee Chair, Li Andersson
We particularly welcome MEP Andersson’s assertion that "The use of AI and Algorithmic Management must be based on the 'human in control' principle and should help support and reinforce working conditions and never be used to replace dialogue and consultation in the workplace”.
Mathematically the committee may be more difficult to navigate however, with 7 from Patriots for Europe, 7 from ECR and 2 from Europe of Sovereign Nations.
The Parliament’s priorities are, naturally, difficult to gauge so soon after the election. While still waiting for the final horse-trading to finish (see ECR gaining two seats just today), the malleable cordon sanitaire has sought to divert efforts to ensuring groups to the right of the ECR faction do not receive key positions. Their chairing of the Budget, Agriculture and Petitions committees are still unwelcome developments, as ECR are not a group friendly to workers, trade unions, or our values.
Despite this, S&D having control of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality and the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, along with the Greens chairing the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, will be very helpful going forward.
President Nayla Glaise & Vice-President Käthe Munk Ryom meet with MEP Idoia Mendía Cueva
While not unexpected, last week’s vote for the re-election of Commission President von der Leyen was not a formality, with the pre-vote speech presenting a cross-parliament free-for-all of policy priorities aimed at amassing support amongst all MEPS. That said, the content gives an indication as to what the Commission’s priorities in the area of employment may be, though we await the nomination of Commissioners and their political aims per portfolio from 2024 – 2029.
With only one reference to workers (“We must ensure fair transitions and good working conditions for workers and self-employed people”), no mention of trade unions and various leanings towards deregulation, we will need to fight to ensure that the veiled promises of work on Mental Health, AI at work, a Just Transition, Quality Jobs, re-upskilling and more are not forgotten.
Things are beginning to take shape in what will be a very busy period for trade unions.