From one voice to many: the journey of ALEBA delegate Katarzyna Rzosinska

Rooted in the values of solidarity and democracy, Katarzyna Rzosinska has built her journey from Poland’s social movements to Luxembourg’s workplaces. Now a delegate at HSBC Continental Europe, she stands with ALEBA to defend employees’ rights and strengthen collective dialogue.

Katarzyna’s story begins long before her professional life in Luxembourg. Growing up in Poland during a time of political transformation, she witnessed first-hand the power of collective voice through the national trade union movement Solidarity.

“It took years of roundtable negotiations to become a democratic country,” she recalls. “It demonstrated that even small actions can have a significant impact, and that collective expression can be truly effective”

This belief in solidarity guided her years later when, after joining the Luxembourg workforce in 2008, she faced uncertainty as her company underwent a major structural change.

 “A colleague had told me that my rights as an employee could be protected by a trade union in Luxembourg” she explains. “And I subsequently joined ALEBA, and I chose them because I needed legal support at that time. Nevertheless, I appreciated ALEBA’s human approach. It is a union of people, not bureaucracy — pragmatic, and certainly not guided by dogma. Whenever I have a concern, I know I can reach out and receive genuine assistance”.

Katarzyna officially joined ALEBA in 2018, initially at Schroders, before transferring to HSBC Continental Europe the following year.

Her choice of ALEBA was deliberate. “Before the elections, I was invited to join another list,” she recalls.

“At the last minute,I declined to be on other union list and instead introduced ALEBA as the bank’s third trade union. I recall it was a race against time: I had only 72 hours to obtain the consent of 5% of my colleagues to register ALEBA and to find 12 candidates for the electoral list. The proposal from the other trade union was rejected, as the role offered would have been largely inactive. That is when I chose the ALEBA list”.

As result, she won the social mandate and became the delegate.

Katarzyna’s motivation for becoming a delegate was not based on the advantages specified by labour law. Her motivation was clear: she wanted to give employees a collective voice.

“Some of my colleagues had concerns but didn’t act, didn’t talk. I felt I could listen, understand, and bring their voices to the level up” she says.

For Katarzyna, ALEBA stands for protection and proximity - “the defender of labour rights,” as she puts it. In her role as the delegate, she has become a trusted resource for colleagues navigating complex issues - from working conditions and special leaves to pensions and dismissals.

“On a daily basis, I receive questions about labour law, the social system, bonuses, or how to make voluntary additional contributions to the pension system,” she explains. “I also   encouraged colleagues to invest in themselves — to use their training allowance of money and time to study, grow, and stay competitive in line with the evolving expectations of the labour market”.

Her sense of duty extends beyond her own workplace by participating in the round tables in Chambre des salaries, conferences touching the actual challenges, or representing ALEBA and its members on European level over UNI Europe with the objective to strengthen collective bargaining.

She sees representation as an act of altruism. It is the mission to build bridges between employees, management, and ALEBA`s members between the government. “To be a delegate is to listen, advocate, and empower,” she says. “If you feel strong enough to represent others, you can make meaningful improvements, both within your company and at the national level”.

For Katarzyna, unions are an essential part of a healthy democracy.

“In a democratic system, we have three parties: the government, the employees, and the employers. Unions like ALEBA ensure that balance - they protect work-life harmony and make sure no side dominates.”

Her journey - from witnessing Poland’s democratic transformation to advocating for employees’ rights in Luxembourg - reflects the enduring value of representation. Whether at the negotiation table or in daily exchanges with colleagues, Katarzyna’s voice carries the same message: solidarity is built one conversation at a time.

With her blend of empathy, leadership, and conviction, Katarzyna Rzosinska continues to embody ALEBA’s mission - standing by employees, defending fairness, and promoting a workplace where every voice counts. As she puts it, “Being a delegate is a mission of trust - and I’m here to deliver on that trust.”