We Work Europe

European Centre for Workers' Questions (EZA)
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Digitalisation, migration, social cohesion and stability of the liberal democracy – these are megatrends Europe must face in the future. In this podcast by EZA (European Centre For Workers’ Questions), we’ll talk about that from the workers’ perspective. Travel with us to different projects, persons, and organisations to find out about challenges but also perspectives for the social future of Europe.

  1. Episode 37: quality of hours

    12/17/2025

    Episode 37: quality of hours

    Reducing working hours is a phenomenon that started in the 20th century. The third and final episode of this mini-series focuses on science. At the University of Münster, Germany, Julia Backmann and her team research the impact of the four-day-work week. She has conducted an experiment with dozens of organizations that have reduced working hours. Her results are in favor of this model and in line with studies all around the world. Reducing working hours may be a challenge at first, but not only workers but also employers can benefit from it.

    15 min
  2. Episode 36: Four days a week

    12/17/2025

    Episode 36: Four days a week

    For Giorgos Valasis a regular work week consists of 6 days. After his shift as a bus driver in Athens he finds himself constantly exhausted. He’s frightened by the fact that his government passed a law to enable 13 hours per day. While Giorgios and a lot of his working colleges take this fight into the streets of Athens to prevent the liberalisation of working hours, a German CEO changed his company to four-day-working-week. In this second episode, Carsten Graf tells his story of how he has changed the structure of his business and what has changed since then.

    11 min
  3. Episode 35: expanding working hours

    12/17/2025

    Episode 35: expanding working hours

    Questioning working time has always been a big issue for both workers and employers. In a three-part series of We Work Europe, we take a closer look at different models. The first episode follows the Greek government’s attempt to increase working time. It’s purpose is to fight the shortage of skilled workforce as well as undeclared work. Deputy minister of labour and social security, Konstantinos Karagkounis, explains how changed legislation might bring new opportunities to its country. On the other hand there is Antonis Karras, president of one of Greece’s largest trade unions DAKE, an EZA member. He believes new laws will weaken the position of workers.

    14 min
  4. Episode 34: The other perspective

    09/17/2025

    Episode 34: The other perspective

    What happens when you wait 25 years for EU membership – and are still told you’re not ready? In this episode, we look at Bosnia and Herzegovina, where hopes for accession remain high but frustrations are growing. We hear from politicians and experts about stalled reforms, mass emigration, and the risk of losing the country’s future to other powers. Can Bosnia still find its place in the European Union – and what lessons can be drawn from past enlargements?

    14 min
  5. Episode 33: Lessons learned from communism

    09/17/2025

    Episode 33: Lessons learned from communism

    On his 34th birthday in 1989, Dr. Konstantin Trenchev helped found Bulgaria’s first independent trade union – PODKREPA. What began as a small act of defiance soon turned into a movement that shaped Bulgaria’s path to democracy and EU accession. In this episode, we revisit the turbulent years around the fall of communism, the struggles of early trade unionists, and the promises and pitfalls of Bulgaria’s journey into the European Union. What lessons remain from this era – and how do they echo in today’s Europe?

    13 min
  6. Episode 32: Between hopes and disappointment - 20 years after the CEE-enlargement

    09/17/2025

    Episode 32: Between hopes and disappointment - 20 years after the CEE-enlargement

    What happens when the promise of prosperity in the EU doesn’t match reality? In this first episode, we start in Sofia, Bulgaria, where strikes and low wages reveal the frustrations of many citizens. We hear from journalists, union leaders, and researchers about the struggles of EU integration, the rising cost of living, and why the expected “convergence” never fully arrived. Join us as we explore the hopes, challenges, and disappointments of countries that joined the EU in 2004 and 2007 – and ask whether their concerns are justified, and what trade unions and politics can do today.

    14 min
  7. Episode 31: What's in it for (Gen) Me

    04/04/2025

    Episode 31: What's in it for (Gen) Me

    In the final episode of "Inside Gen Z," we explore how trade unions are working to engage young people in the labor market. Despite a general lack of awareness about unions among youth, initiatives like the CNV's youth department in the Netherlands and Krifa's TikTok presence in Denmark aim to attract younger members. Through real-life examples, including the successful unionization of Starbucks employees, we see the power of social media and grassroots movements. Experts emphasize the importance of listening to Gen Z's demands and collaborating with them to create a better future for all workers.

    14 min
  8. Episode 30: The trap

    04/04/2025

    Episode 30: The trap

    The second episode of "Inside Gen Z" delves into common prejudices, such as the belief that Gen Z is lazy or unwilling to work. Contrary to these stereotypes, studies reveal that Gen Z is actually more committed and engaged than previous generations. Experts like Helle Stenbro and Wouter Vandenabeele discuss the origins of these misconceptions and emphasize the importance of understanding individual life stages over broad generational labels. Tune in to explore the complexities of Gen Z and the impact of stereotypes in the workplace.

    14 min
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About

Digitalisation, migration, social cohesion and stability of the liberal democracy – these are megatrends Europe must face in the future. In this podcast by EZA (European Centre For Workers’ Questions), we’ll talk about that from the workers’ perspective. Travel with us to different projects, persons, and organisations to find out about challenges but also perspectives for the social future of Europe.

Information

  • Creator
    European Centre for Workers' Questions (EZA)
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    37
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © European Centre For Workers’ Questions
  • Show Website
    We Work Europe