Policy Brief

06/04/2022

Most of us spend most of our time at work. Work is what we do, where we go, who we know and how we get on in life. But while they might have a lot to say about salaries or employment figures, our politicians have less to offer when it comes to work itself. Left and right agree we need more ‘good jobs’ – but do we know what good jobs are?

Answering that question is a challenge, especially with the changes brought on by Covid-19 and increasing automation, but it is also a massive opportunity for social democratic and labour parties. As the parliamentary expression of organised labour, they have been successful in the past at offering both change and consensus around a changing economy and world of work. To do so again though, social democrats and labour parties need a clear, positive, vision that can engage with the hopes of workers present and past, young and old.

This vision must be optimistic, focusing on tangible future benefits. It must go beyond stale repetitions of what social democrats are against, and not be hung up on impossible promises to restore what has been lost in previous decades.

FEPS and Progressive Britain have partnered with a leading academic and trade unionist to bring you a paper that is part of building that vision – setting out how the Labour Party in the UK has grasped the politics of work in the past, the challenges of today and the electoral and moral victories than can be won should the party get it right now.

It is part of a forthcoming series of papers, workshops and blogs where FEPS and Progressive Britain will explore the policy and politics of work. The project focuses on the UK but will be informed by approaches across the European continent – from Germany’s co-determination system to the ‘Nordic model’ of collective bargaining.

Network
Progressive Britain
Find all related publications
Publications
12/02/2024

The Social Pillar and the future of the EU Social Agenda

24/01/2024

Progressive Yearbook 2024

Looking back to look ahead
23/01/2024

Algorithms by and for the workers

Digital Programme: Algorithms at the workplace
18/01/2024

Employment terms of platform workers

Digital Programme: Algorithms at the workplace
Find all related Progressive Post
Progressive Post
24/01/2024

Emboldening the EU’s social dimension

23/01/2024

Social Europe as a precondition for a more modern and just EU

30/11/2023

Towards Sovereign AI: Europe´s greatest challenge?

Find all related events
Events
Upcoming
04 - 05/04/2024
Portimão, Portugal

#ProgressivesSpeakUp 2024

School of young politicians on housing
Past
16/02/2024
Sofia, Bulgaria

The cost of personal transition

Forum for Progressive left solutions
12/02/2024
Austrian Permanent Representation, Brussels

The European Pillar of Social Rights

Turning principles into practice
Find all related news
News
07/03/2024

Call for videos – Your Call to Europe

This call closed on 24/03/2024
24/01/2024

Spanish Minister Teresa Ribera awarded FEPS ‘Progressive Person of the Year’

25/04/2023

Feminist Leadership for Women in CSOs

Survey for women in leadership
20/04/2023

Research & Project Coordination for a policy study on the state of the EU Pillar of Social Rights

Call for tender
Find all related in the media
In the media

AI won’t replace quality journalism, but sector needs safeguarding, says socialist think tank head

by Euractiv 18/03/2024
Interview with FEPS President on the role of media in Europe’s future

Ласло Андор: Европа трябва да създаде нов модел за икономически растеж

by dir.bg 14/03/2024
'Europe must create a new model for economic growth'. Interview by Laszlo Andor, FEPS Secretary General

Цената на прехода – зелен, дигитален и демографски

by BNT 13/03/2024
'The cost of transition - green, digital and demographic' BNT Interview with László Andor about the three major transformations the world is facing.

»Der er tale om en markant udvikling«: Det vrimler med Wolt-bude

by Politiken 19/01/2024
'"This is a significant development": Wolt workers are everywhere' Politiken's article about the Digital Programme's first policy study: 'Employment terms of platform workers'