Efforts to raise wages and improve working conditions across Europe are being set back by the deliberate misuse of European data protection legislation to deny trade union rights.

An ETUC survey of affiliates about the implementation of GDPR in member states found a worrying new trend of employers abusing the law to deny trade unions their right to contact workers at work.

It’s part of a wider assault on trade union rights in Europe which is limiting the level of collective bargaining, the best way of achieving fair wages and working conditions. 

The ETUC is calling on the European Commission to protect trade union rights, including digital access to workplaces, as part of its initiative on fair minimum wages.

The European Commission’s consultation paper described collective bargaining as an “essential element of a social market economy” and a “strong foundation for good wage setting.” But collective bargaining isn’t possible unless unions are able to contact workers at work.

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