Europe is facing numerous challenges, from the changing global geo-economic conditions to the enormity of tackling the climate crisis. Trade unions have, since their inception during the industrial revolution, sought to shape policy in times of tumult to ensure that the interests of workers are secured. In her address to the IIEA, Esther Lynch, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, discusses her views on how European green industrial policy can shape Europe’s success, the state of play of EU social dialogue, and how reaching the EU target of 80 per cent of workers covered by a collective agreement can lead to successful outcomes for all.

About the Speaker:

Esther Lynch is the General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation. Previously, Ms Lynch was Deputy General Secretary at the ETUC from 2019 to 2022, following four years as Confederal Secretary. She led on social dialogue, collective bargaining and wage policy, trade union rights, gender equality. Ms Lynch has extensive trade union experience at Irish, European and international levels, starting with her election as a shop steward in the 1980s. Before coming to the ETUC, she was the Legislation and Social Affairs Officer with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), where she took part in negotiations on Ireland’s National Social Partner Agreements.