Optimism amongst diluted portfolios

Despite the centralisation of power to the 13^th floor of the Berlaymont and emboldening of the far-right, trade unions have reasons to be optimistic in the coming mandate. With the dust settling, areas of opportunity can be seen in the aftermath of President von der Leyen’s decimation of the portfolio for employment and social affairs.

These namely come through the two portfolios for People, Skills and Preparedness (including, according to the mission letter, skills and education, quality jobs and social rights), headed up by Roxana Mînzatu (RO, S&D) and Teresa Ribera Rodríguez (ES, S&D) - the Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition.

Both portfolios being headed up by Socialists are an obvious advantage, but the content of these mandates indicates that they will be the primary areas of action for delivering upon our priorities. Within the portfolio of Commissioner-designate Mînzatu, for example, the Commission President has mandated that focus is placed on:

• Occupational health and safety, including workplace mental health
• An initiative on algorithmic management
• Supporting re/up-skilling and training
• Development of a Quality Jobs Roadmap
• Action on the right to disconnect

Despite the change in portfolio title and the shameful focus on corporate wish lists as opposed to the needs of European workers, a number of Eurocadres priorities are included in the above, in particular our EndStress campaign goals.

In addition, Teresa Ribera Rodríguez as Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, could play a massive role in advancing our call to legislate against non-competition clauses, having been mandated to tackle anti-competitive practices in her role. Added to the creation of Social Climate, Just Transition and European Competitiveness funds, along with a Clean Industrial Deal, the voice of professionals and managers can be amplified in these critical policy discussions.

To deliver on this unions will need to be vocal and organised, given the previously mentioned rightward shift of both the European Commission and Parliament. While a designated commissioner for employment and social affairs may no longer receive the policy aims we present, with a widened scope for activities through various mandates, unions and workers can have optimism that our key priorities make it to the 13^th floor, despite the newly erected barriers we face.