As multinational corporations organise their power across Europe and globally, trade unions must strengthen their ability to act collectively across borders. This was the key message delivered by Judith Kirton-Darling, IndustriAll Europes General Secretary at the CGT Congress ,during discussions on the role of industriAll Europe and the challenges facing workers in a rapidly changing industrial landscape.

“The reality is clear: companies coordinate their strategies at European and global level, while workers too often respond within national boundaries. To rebalance this relationship, trade unions must transform European rights and frameworks into real collective power”, said Judith Kirton-Darling

A central opportunity lies in the revision of the European Works Councils (EWC) Directive. The new rules can strengthen workers’ influence through improved access to justice, more effective sanctions, stronger consultation rights and a recognised role for trade union experts. However, these advances will only make a difference if unions actively use them by renegotiating EWC agreements, training representatives and developing common cross-border strategies.

Industrial democracy is about more than receiving information. Workers must be able to anticipate and shape industrial change, including the green and digital transitions, rather than simply reacting to restructuring decisions.

Transparency is the second key challenge. Multinational companies often rely on complex corporate structures, subcontracting and global value chains that obscure decision-making and dilute responsibility. European sustainability reporting rules can help shed light on corporate practices, but transparency must become more than a compliance exercise.

“Trade unions need to use these tools strategically to understand company strategies, expose contradictions and coordinate action across countries. Without transparency, there can be no effective oversight; without oversight, there can be no genuine industrial democracy”, added Judith Kirton-Darling

The third pillar is corporate accountability. Despite recent attempts to weaken due diligence legislation, the principle remains essential: multinational companies must be held responsible for the social and environmental impacts of their activities throughout their operations and supply chains.

Trade unions have a vital role to play in identifying risks, ensuring workers’ voices are heard and holding companies accountable. Global framework agreements, trade union networks and European and global works councils provide important tools for building collective power when used together.

The discussion concluded with a clear call to action: Europe does not lack legal frameworks. The challenge is to use them politically and strategically.

Trade unions must transform rights into real power, coordination into bargaining strength and the promise of a Social Europe into a concrete reality for workers. Faced with increasingly organised multinational corporations, workers need stronger cross-border solidarity and collective action.

“Building power beyond borders remains at the heart of industriAll Europe’s mission and the broader trade union movement’s responsibility”, concluded Judith Kirton-Darling