ESSDE Plenary 2024: setting the way forward
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Today ETUCE and EFEE delegates adopted the mandate to negotiate a European autonomous agreement on telework and the right to disconnect in the education sector.
The European Sectoral Social Dialogue in Education (ESSDE) held its final meeting of the year on 19 December 2024. One of the early highlights was the introduction of new leadership within the sector following the recent ETUCE Conference and EFEE General Assembly. The plenary formally presented the newly elected ETUCE President and European Director as well as the reconfirmed EFEE President and Secretary General.
A significant point of the agenda was the participation of the Cabinet of the European Commission Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu, who provided insights into the next Commission work programme, particularly in the areas of “People, Skills, and Preparedness”, that cover employment and education policy. Delegates exchanged with the cabinet on aligning EU initiatives with the education sector's priorities and touched upon their upcoming sectoral negotiations on telework and the right to disconnect, running in parallel with an expected European legislative initiative. Such agreement will allow education social partners to define their approach to telework and the right to disconnect and will allow them to adapt a possible EU initiative to the specific needs of the education sector.
ETUCE and EFEE led discussions on upcoming sectoral negotiations, which were agreed upon as part of the ESSDE Work Programme 2024-2026. The plenary adopted the ESSDE mandate for these negotiations, which will begin in spring 2025 with the administrative and political support of the European Commission. This topic underscored the growing need to address work-life balance and adapt to the evolving nature of work in the education sector.
The plenary also included an important discussion on third-party violence and harassment at work. ETUCE and EFEE presented updated multisectoral guidelines on the subject, which were adopted during the meeting. Delegates engaged in a meaningful exchange about the implementation of these guidelines in the education sector, emphasising the importance of fostering safe and supportive workplaces, also to prevent and protect from gender-based and domestic violence.
Later in the meeting, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Budget (DG BUDG) outlined the reforms to the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2035. Delegates discussed the role of social partners in this process and the need for education funding to remain a priority in the EU’s long-term budget planning. The discussions highlighted the importance of ensuring that education is adequately resourced to meet the challenges of the future.
Additionally, a presentation on the finalised Online Interactive Risk Assessment (OiRA) tool for Higher Education and Research showcased its potential to improve workplace safety. Delegates explored strategies for social partners to support the tool's implementation and adoption at the national level.