About

Who we are

We are Europeans, we fight for a social Europe, we stand for education - we are the European Centre for Workers’ Questions (EZA). In 29 European countries, we advocate the rights of workers with 70 member organisations. We combine socio-cultural labour organisations, unions, research institutions and educational facilities under our umbrella. We are guided by Christian-social values. We believe that a well-functioning social dialogue is a key component for a social Europe.

• Europe needs leaders of workers’ organizations who have a European outlook and who participate in European networks. We help with Capacity Building. We communicate knowledge about the European context and increase technical skills. We are an educational centre and platform for our members.
• Together with our partners, we organise around 70 continuing education seminars a year on the social dialogue in Europe, and we also enable thematic platforms on work mobility/migration, education systems, equal opportunity and for young workers.
• Our continuing education programmes are directed at multipliers and those in charge of workers’ organizations. In particular, we want to support the next generation of leaders in workers’ organizations and unions. Together, we discuss the social and labour market-specific challenges in Europe and work together to develop solutions.
• Our philosophy is based on the social and ethical principles set out in Christian social teachings, namely human dignity, solidarity, subsidiary and sustainability.

The social dialogue is part of the European social model, which is unique to Europe. It provides a forum for employers and employees: a place of opinion and knowledge sharing, and for labour negotiations. The social dialogue strengthens the further development of democracy at the workplace, in companies and in European society. The social dialogue and a market economy are not mutually exclusive. Rather, the social dialogue contributes to preventing social conflicts and ensuring more justice, better productivity and competitiveness. Questions such as youth unemployment, green work environments or the digital transformation are just as important in the social dialogue as are workplace safety and worker mobility.

We want workers and employers to talk to each other - using a constructive and value-based approach

Mission statement and EZA Charta for the Promotion of Equality