Erin spoke with Carrie Cannon, a member of the Union of Independents, about the organisation’s progress as it celebrates its first anniversary. Representing over 1,700 independent workers in Luxembourg, the union was founded to advocate for freelancers, entrepreneurs, and self-employed professionals who lack the protections and rights of traditional employees.

Carrie highlighted a key issue facing independents: CSS contributions, which are calculated on total income—including VAT and expenses—making payments disproportionately high. The union is actively working to negotiate fairer terms with the government.

Founded by Clara Moraru out of necessity, the Union of Independents is Luxembourg’s first dedicated trade union for freelancers. While the country has a strong history of union representation, independents have largely been left without a collective voice until now.

Carrie shared her personal experience as a health coach, noting that while freelancing offers flexibility, it comes with challenges like long hours, administrative burdens, and financial instability, particularly during illness. She emphasised that despite their diverse fields, freelancers face common struggles, from taxation issues to securing business bank accounts.

The union’s next major goal is increasing membership.They aim to rally more of Luxembourg’s 40,000 independent workers to strengthen their collective voice. Membership fees are structured based on income, making it accessible to those in different financial situations.