Work, Economy & the Just Transition

Work, Economy & the Just Transition

 

The social democratic understanding of progress in the 21st century combines social, economic, and ecological responsibility. The power of automation, combined with the global threats posed by increasing inequality and climate change – two of the greatest present-day challenges – prompts us to rethink much of our economic, industrial, and social models. Hence, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung is committed to a Just Transition – a socially and ecologically just structural change that enables sustainable economic activity, climate protection, and better life prospects for all.

FES UK strives to support both people and the economy for a Just Transition in the UK and Germany. We work with political and economic experts, international organisations, and trade unions to develop strategies and provide advice on how the UK and Germany can work together to achieve social justice and sustainability, especially in the aftermath of Brexit. In dialogue formats and publications, we develop approaches on how the EU and UK can successfully work together on climate and social policies. We need to safeguard and strengthen the welfare state, contribute to gender equality, and develop climate-neutral energy systems and industries.

Trade unions are at the forefront of the struggles for a democratic and sustainable world of work. International dialogue, policymaking, and strategising are essential to ensure effective workers’ representation. The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung works closely with workers, activists, and officials to promote stronger, more democratic, and more inclusive trade unions. In addition, our work in this area is supported by our Future of Work and Just Climate offices, both of which are located in Brussels and were founded in 2021. FES Future of Work aims to discuss and debate the future of work at the European level, and FES Just Climate focuses on energy, industrial, structural, and labour policies, as well as the European Green Deal.

Related Events

18.06.2024

Teacher Trade Union Delegation to Saxony - Against the Far-right in Schools

NASUWT the Teachers’ Union, the GEW, and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung UK office are undertaking a joint project to explore the impact of the increase of far-right and populist narratives in schools.

The project aims to create dialogue between UK and German teacher union activists as we explore how teachers are facing up to the challenge of far-right narratives being repeated and promoted by children and young people in the classroom. The project focuses on an exchange between teachers working in the Black Country, West Midlands in the UK and Leipzig, Saxony in Germany.

In late May 2024, the first part of the exchange took place with five teachers from schools in the Black Country visiting the German state of Saxony to meet with their German counterparts and explore the challenges that Germany is facing from the far-right, and how this is resonating in the German school system. The delegation visited schools, received input from anti-racist civil society organisations, and engaged in cross-union exchange on various areas of practice, policy and experience. Delegates discussed safeguarding, the weaponisation of mandatory political neutrality for teachers, and shared experiences on dealing with racist, misogynistic and anti-LGBTQ+ behaviour among pupils.

The aim of this international dialogue is to explore areas of common and divergent practice, in order to produce a strategy for dealing with, and preventing, the influence that the far-right is exerting over children in the UK and Germany.

The follow-up trip takes place in October 2024, when a delegation of German educators will travel to the Black Country to exchange with their comrades there.

Related Publications

18.06.2024

Teacher Trade Union Delegation to Saxony - Against the Far-right in Schools

NASUWT the Teachers’ Union, the GEW, and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung UK office are undertaking a joint project to explore the impact of the increase of far-right and populist narratives in schools.

The project aims to create dialogue between UK and German teacher union activists as we explore how teachers are facing up to the challenge of far-right narratives being repeated and promoted by children and young people in the classroom. The project focuses on an exchange between teachers working in the Black Country, West Midlands in the UK and Leipzig, Saxony in Germany.

In late May 2024, the first part of the exchange took place with five teachers from schools in the Black Country visiting the German state of Saxony to meet with their German counterparts and explore the challenges that Germany is facing from the far-right, and how this is resonating in the German school system. The delegation visited schools, received input from anti-racist civil society organisations, and engaged in cross-union exchange on various areas of practice, policy and experience. Delegates discussed safeguarding, the weaponisation of mandatory political neutrality for teachers, and shared experiences on dealing with racist, misogynistic and anti-LGBTQ+ behaviour among pupils.

The aim of this international dialogue is to explore areas of common and divergent practice, in order to produce a strategy for dealing with, and preventing, the influence that the far-right is exerting over children in the UK and Germany.

The follow-up trip takes place in October 2024, when a delegation of German educators will travel to the Black Country to exchange with their comrades there.