The EZA kick-off seminar 2021 on the subject of “Europe after the coronavirus pandemic and before the economic boom. How can we make our future more digital, greener and more social?” took place from November 25th to 26th, 2021 in Vienna/Austria and was networked purely digitally via ZOOM throughout Europe. The on-site organiser was ÖZA (Austrian Centre for Employee Education). The seminar was offered with the support of the European Union.
111 representatives of workers' organizations from 24 countries - Albania (as guests), Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, France, Greece, Italy, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Ukraine (as guest), Hungary and Cyprus attended the seminar.
Thursday, November 25th, 2021
Opening of the start seminar 2021 and welcome by the organizers
In ZOOM format, EZA General Secretary Sigrid SCHRAML and ÖZA General Secretary Andreas GJECAJ will moderate the seminar from the hall in Vienna (with technical support from 2 companies for the live broadcasts and translations into 8 languages).
Denis STRIEDER from ÖZA takes on the technical implementation. In his introduction, moderator Gjecaj describes the special COVID crisis and deep cracks that run through our society and act like a "bitter religious war" between vaccinated and unvaccinated. Employee organisations can propose 3 possible solutions:
- Dialogue: on an equal footing and with mutual respect
- To put things out of contention together: differentiating between facts and opinions
- A compromise is not a defeat, but a tried and tested solution to a problem!
In his welcoming address, ÖZA President Norbert SCHNEDL points to the decline in solidarity in society and that “social media” works like an echo chamber, where ever more radical views spread and become a danger for developed democracies.
The Austrian Foreign Minister Dr. Michael LINHART thanks in his video message for the organisation of the seminar despite the corona lockdown and demands that we have to continue and stick together even in the crisis.
EZA Co-President Piergiorgio SCIACQUA stresses that we must not lose sight of social justice because values are often veiled today. “The EU must become stronger as a community. Member States alone cannot create global solutions,” said Sciacqua.
Experience reports: "Effects of the pandemic on the economy, social affairs and trade union work"
Moderation: Andreas GJECAJ, ÖZA - lectures and discussion
Joseph THOUVENEL, France: Describes the loss of around 300,000 jobs and strong inflation (energy prices). Very different situations in the various sectors (tourism, etc.). Home working a new trend towards urban evacuation (house with garden), burden for women increased again. According to the ILO report, 5% of the world's population is also impoverished.
Americo MONTEIRO OLIVEIRA, Portugal: State support only reaches official work. The shadow economy, including small self-employed people, had to close and also have no social security.
Caroline MOCH, ICAJ: The CAJ also sees the pandemic as a “wake-up call” because we are working worldwide in an economic system that does not allow a “good life for everyone”.
The discussion demands that the corona pandemic must be followed by a "pandemic of solidarity" (according to Prof. Zulehner).
Friday, November 26th, 2021
The longing for the "New Normal" after the pandemic. Was that normal before? Critical reflections ...
Moderation: Dr. Karin PETTER-TRAUSZNITZ, ÖZA
Prof. Dr. Paul ZULEHNER, Austria: The pandemic is causing an increasingly aggressive polarisation of the population across Europe. “The social question is becoming more acute” (Angela Merkel, 2020). There are enormous challenges for the world community. “The freedom of the rich is not yet justice for the many!” (After Jean B. Lacordaire). It's not just about what is systemically relevant, but also relevant to: people, life, existence! Pope Francis teaches us: “Nobody can save himself alone!” (Encyclical Fratelli Tutti)
Jose Luis PEREA BLANQUER, Spain: Describes the situation of the self-employed in Spain. For many small entrepreneurs, an increase in the minimum wage would be impossible. (This thesis is hotly debated and there are also opposing opinions in the seminar)
Horatiu POP, Romania: Describes what was considered "normal" before the Corona crisis and that we are experiencing some deterioration, but also improvements, e.g. with ONLINE solutions.
EU development and resilience after the pandemic - where are we headed?
Moderation: Carien NEVEN, Belgium
Tim Joris KAISER, EU Commission: Using a powerpoint, he describes current EU projects, such as the "Recovery Fund", which is being implemented in all EU countries. The same goes for the “Next Generation EU” project.
Use the Kairos: a more digital and greener EU ... how can the transformation succeed in a socially just way?
Moderation: Jan FRANCO, Belgium
Prof. Dr. Anders LEVERMANN, Germany: shows numerous data on climate change in his powerpoint. Because of global warming, the amount of evaporated water increases, and heavy rain and floods occur. The climate crisis is also triggering economic shock waves.
Diederik BRINK, Holland: As a member of the EZA education platform, he describes the changes in the last 20 months that not only affect students and teachers, but also employers. Teleworking not only affects home schooling, but also other activities in the home office.
Jörg TAGGER, EU Commission: The EU has set itself very ambitious goals (e.g. CO2 reduction, climate neutrality) because, given the data, being inactive is not an option. The work for “digital platforms” leads to social distortions - here too there is an acute need for action.
Using the Kairos: a more digital and greener EU ... how can the transformation succeed in a socially just way?
Moderation: Jan FRANCO, Belgium
Mag. Helga HONS, GPA-Austria: Lists numerous challenges that arise in labour law due to digital change: The work environment is changing, work can be performed from many places, the trend is moving away from collective labour law towards individual employment contracts. Winners are those who learn new things, losers are those who are overwhelmed by change or displaced by artificial intelligence (AI).
Jörg TAGGER, EU Commission: Describes again the numerous initiatives of the EU Commission. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has been very active in addressing the problem posed by job placement platforms on the Internet.
Dennis RADTKE, MEP: Recalls that numerous initiatives, e.g. the European Pillar of Social Rights, were introduced and implemented by the EPP (Juncker, Thyssen). Most recently, the application of a minimum wage was accepted with a clear majority (37 YES, 7 NO, 7 abstentions). A regulation of the platform work is urgently necessary, as is the clarification of the status of bicycle messengers and “Uber” drivers by reversing the burden of proof: In the future, companies will have to prove that the people are not employees.
Summary - Recommendations for action to politicians and employee organisations: LUC VAN DEN BRANDE, EZA President
In his summary, he calls on the “kairos” to use the momentum when the time comes. In the meantime, “digital” has already become “normal”. We have to create a socially inclusive society where nobody is left outside.
7 conclusions:
- Understand the pandemic as a "wake-up call"
- Thinking about the essential tasks of our society
- Rethinking globalization: climate change, pandemic, eco-social
- Rethink principles: We are all in the same boat - solidarity
- EU democracy is based on values: rule of law, human rights
- Making Transition: Fair, Social Change; act quickly
- Commitment to inform, inspire and connect.
“We need a further development of the globalised world beyond pure geopolitics to a geo-society that rethinks its future and develops the social market economy into an eco-social market economy. The pandemic must be a wake-up call for us and encourage us to think about the essential tasks of our society and to act. The values of EU democracy such as the rule of law and human dignity take prime position. As Christian-social workers' organisations, it is up to us to be a source of inspiration for others and the voice of losers and socially disadvantaged people!"
Van den Brande closes with the call for dialogue: "We must not be silent!"