From 14 to 16 January 2026, industriAll Europe and ETUI organised a three-day workshop bringing together 25 trade unionists from across Europe. Participants represented a wide range of industrial sectors and came notably from Poland, Italy, France, Germany and Finland, allowing for an exchange of experiences on how AI is being introduced and regulated at national and sectoral level.
The workshop combined research-based analysis with policy perspectives and practical experience from the workplace. Contributions came from ETUI, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the European Commission, including the AI Office, and the Center for Democracy and Technology, alongside exchanges rooted in participants’ own day-to-day trade union practice.
Key issues discussed
Discussions covered a broad range of AI-related challenges for workers and trade unions, including:
• the impact of AI on employment, work organisation and skills needs
• algorithmic management and the use of AI in workplace decision-making
• national and European AI strategies
• EU digital legislation, including the AI Act and the proposed Digital Omnibus regulation
• the growing role of AI in collective bargaining, with examples from Finland, Italy, Poland and France
On employment and work organisation, OECD research presented during the workshop showed that AI use in EU manufacturing increased from 7% in 2021 to 11% in 2024, remaining lower than in many other sectors. Uptake is higher in industries such as pharmaceuticals, electronics, chemicals and machinery, while wood and paper, basic metals and textiles currently show much lower levels of AI use. While the automating impact of AI appears less marked in manufacturing, participants agreed that AI is already reshaping jobs and driving changes in skills requirements.
A recurring message throughout the workshop was the rejection of technological determinism. Participants stressed that AI does not automatically replace workers; its impact on employment and work organisation depends on how technologies are designed, implemented and governed, and on the strength of regulation and social dialogue.
Summing up the discussions, Isabelle Barthès, industriAll Europe Deputy General Secretary, underlined:
“This workshop, co-organised with ETUI, builds on industriAll Europe’s long-standing work on AI. It showed how wide-ranging the impact of AI already is, from the workplace to collective bargaining, social dialogue and skills development. Participants shared very concrete examples from many countries, and one message was clear: AI will only deliver benefits if trade unions are fully involved to ensure that these gains are shared fairly and that workers’ rights are protected.”
She also highlighted concerns regarding current EU digital policy debates, warning that the proposed Digital Omnibus risks weakening existing protections, particularly in relation to GDPR. Europe’s digital legal framework, she stressed, is a strength that must be preserved to safeguard workers’ rights and the EU’s strategic autonomy.
The workshop confirmed the importance of continued trade union cooperation and capacity-building to ensure that AI supports quality jobs, workplace democracy and social progress across Europe.