Speaking during the conference, held under the theme Strong Union – Strong Future, Judith Kirton-Darling both spoke to delegates in the conference and took part in the fringe discussion No One Left Behind: Supporting Communities through Industrial Transitions. The message was the same.

Addressing delegates from across the UK, she argued that governments, employers and trade unions must work together to deliver a Just Transition that protects jobs, strengthens industrial communities and equips workers with the skills needed for the future.

Europe's industries are facing profound change. Industrial restructuring, the transition to climate neutrality, rising energy costs, geopolitical uncertainty and the rapid development of artificial intelligence are transforming workplaces across the continent. Judith Kirton-Darling stressed that these challenges can only be met through ambitious industrial policies built on investment, innovation, skills and strong social dialogue.

Addressing delegates, she said:

"We are meeting at a decisive and difficult moment for industrial workers. If we want to shape the transitions underway to tackle climate change, deal with AI, tackle inequality, defend democracy and strengthen workers' rights, then we must build trade union power."

During the fringe discussion with Stephen Kinnock MP, in which new research from Progress and FEPS was presented on the importance of place based industrial policy by Tom Collinge, Judith highlighted examples from across Europe where social dialogue has helped workers and communities manage industrial change. Spain's Just Transition Agreements have combined income protection, retraining and regional investment as coal production has been phased out. In Poland, the Silesian Territorial Just Transition Plan is helping diversify one of Europe's most coal-dependent regions, while in Sweden and Germany national collective agreements have created new rights for workers in transition.

These examples, she argued, demonstrate that successful industrial transformation does not happen by chance.

"Long-term investment, active industrial policy, strong social dialogue and worker participation are what make a Just Transition possible," she told delegates.

Judith Kiron-Darling also addressed the opportunities and risks created by artificial intelligence. While AI can improve productivity and support innovation, she warned that its benefits will depend on how it is introduced into workplaces and the productivity gains are distributed. Workers must have access to lifelong learning and retraining, alongside transparency over how AI systems are used and safeguards against automated decisions affecting jobs, pay and working conditions.

She argued that new technology must strengthen, rather than weaken, workers' rights and collective bargaining.

Alongside industrial transformation, Judith underlined the wider role of trade unions in defending democracy and reducing inequality. Strong collective bargaining remains one of the most effective ways of ensuring workers receive a fair share of economic growth, while workplace democracy is an essential part of democratic societies.

She also highlighted the importance of closer cooperation between the UK and the European Union on industrial policy in strategic sectors such as steel, clean manufacturing and energy to secure investment, strengthen supply chains and support quality industrial jobs on both sides of the Channel.
In the full conference floor, Judith called on trade unions to organise across sectors and borders to shape the future of industry.

"Together we can rebuild collective strength, expand bargaining, shape industrial change and defend democracy. When unions are strong, inequality falls. When unions are strong, democracy holds. And when workers stand together, across sectors and across borders, we can be the change we want to see in the world."