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Industrial action

Industrial action is one of the fundamental means available to workers and their organisations to solve labour disputes and promote their economic and social interests. It can take many forms, from the complete withdrawal of labour for an indefinite period to more restricted forms of collective action in which there is no cessation of work. The right to strike is explicitly recognised in the constitutions and/or laws of many countries. At EU level, the right to strike is enshrined in Article 28 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. The right to collective action by the social partners is also included in the European Pillar of Social Rights.  Eurofound is currently exploring the feasibility of an industrial action monitor. 

Topic

Eurofound research

Eurofound has analysed data collected in 2018–2019 during the piloting of its Industrial Action Monitor (IAM) database. Using cluster analysis, the research classified industrial action in Europe into five categories: 

  • national disputes of interest and rights, sometimes involving different forms of employment
  • extended disputes about collective pay agreements
  • localised disputes about employment problems, working time and restructuring, with short work stoppages
  • localised disputes about workers’ rights and grievances over company policies
  • disputes concerning public policies

Recent updates

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This publication consists of individual country reports on working life during 2021 for 28 countries – the 27 EU Member States and Norway. The country reports summarise evidence on the...

19 May 2022
Publication
Other
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In recent years, apart from some intermittent spikes, there has been a general decrease in industrial action across the EU Member States. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this trend has continued...

7 February 2022
Publication
Research report

Key outputs

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In recent years, apart from some intermittent spikes, there has been a general decrease in industrial action across the EU Member States. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this trend has continued...

7 February 2022
Publication
Research report
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Relative calm on the industrial action front in 2020

Despite the economic turmoil that led to large-scale restructuring in many EU Member States and changes in working conditions for many occupational groups, 2020 seems to have been a quiet...

Article
Publications results (18)

This publication consists of individual country reports on working life during 2021 for 28 countries – the 27 EU Member States and Norway. The country reports summarise evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on working life based on national research and survey results during 2021. They

19 May 2022

In recent years, apart from some intermittent spikes, there has been a general decrease in industrial action across the EU Member States. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this trend has continued, with the most significant labour disputes not surprisingly occurring in the human health and social

07 February 2022

This report – the latest in an annual series – describes the main developments in industrial relations and the regulations affecting working conditions at EU level and in the EU Member States and Norway during 2018. Based on data from the Network of Eurofound Correspondents, it presents information

02 October 2019

Annual review of working life 2017 is part of a series of annual reviews published by Eurofound and provides an overview of the latest developments in industrial relations and working conditions across the EU and Norway. The annual review collates information based on reports from Eurofound’s

22 October 2018

Teachers across Europe have been protesting about their working conditions. Pay levels and pay inequalities, working time and workload, recruitment procedures and staffing at schools have been the main focus of social dialogue and collective action. Several of the reported cases are set in the

09 January 2017

Smartphone car service Uber, a successful company example of the sharing economy, has spread to many EU Member States in recent years. However, many employers and unions are concerned about its challenge to fair competition for other businesses in the sector and about the erosion of working

25 January 2016

Air transport has been in the news in recent months as strikes and difficulties in social dialogue across the European Union have strained relations between the sector’s unions and companies. Disputes in the different countries have revolved around pay and working conditions, restructuring and

09 December 2015

Strike activity across the EU dropped in 2014 following a crisis-related peak in 2010. However, evidence from EurWORK correspondents suggests that the more highly unionised public sector has been a focus of industrial action recently. In general, strikes have been triggered by pay freezes and cuts

24 November 2015

Collective bargaining systems in the EU have undergone a steady change since the end of the 1990s. But as businesses across Europe struggle to respond to intensifying global competition, pressure from employers for greater flexibility in collective bargaining is increasing, especially since the 2008

04 November 2015

This article presents some of the key developments and research findings on aspects of dispute resolution in the EU between the first and third quarters of 2014. Changes in the EU Member States’ collective and individual dispute resolution mechanisms are the main focus. The section on 'Extensions of

18 February 2015

Online resources results (504)

Pay talks and job creation at Renault Portuguesa

This feature focuses on the background to a dispute at Renault's operations in Portugal, which is continuing in November 1997. It outlines the steps taken to create jobs at Renault's Cacia plant in line with a deal signed between the company and the Government, and analyses the current state of pay

Is the Luxembourg model of industrial relations in danger?

The "Luxembourg model" of industrial relations is founded on institutionalised negotiation and social dialogue at all levels, but in the late 1990s it is not free from attacks triggered by the globalisation of capital and product markets. This article explains how the model works and assesses its

Lorry drivers' strike raises European issues

The effects of a lorry drivers strike in November 1997 extended beyond France. The dispute quickly took on a European dimension, provoking reaction from many countries and warnings from the European Commission. Over and above the purely national causes, and in particular poor industrial relations

Joint committee for the Belgian social and cultural sector

After a 20-year wait, a trade union-employer joint committee was set up in February 1996 in the Belgian social and cultural sector. It covers a very broad and varied range of activities, and by late 1997 had already concluded several collective agreements and considered six industrial disputes.

Agreement between LO and NHO on amendments to the Basic Agreement

On Thursday 13 November 1997, the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) and the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry (NHO) agreed to recommend a proposal to amend their Basic Agreement (hovedavtale). The two organisations' representative bodies must approve the new Basic Agreement

Disputes over outsourcing in advanced technology sectors

Attention in Spain has again focused on "downsizing" recently. There have been disputes in October 1997 at Radiotrónica and Sintel over the policy of subcontracting and "outsourcing". What is new is that this policy is now being applied by banks and high-technology companies working in information

Difficult bargaining round in hotel industry

The current bargaining round for 1998 in central Portugal's hotel and restaurant industries is proving to be tough, reflecting more general difficulties being experienced in bargaining. These difficulties are linked to both bargaining structures - collective bargaining takes place almost exclusively

Strike wave across Greece may herald end of social calm

Unions all over Greece and in almost every sector of the economy have scheduled a series of strikes for October 1997 and for the first half of November which may reverse a climate of peace, as far as strikes are concerned, which has prevailed from 1990 until today.

Swedish law on industrial action called in question

The right of a trade union to take industrial action in order to secure a collective agreement is regarded as inherent in the right to freedom of association under the Swedish constitution. This applies regardless of whether such action is called for by the employees directly affected or not

Unions respond to partial privatisation of France Telecom

After a long period of indecision, the French Government decided in September 1997 partially to privatise France Telecom. The main trade unions are attempting to mobilise staff in opposition to this move.


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