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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 maj 2022
Publication
Other
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Under senare år har det, förutom under vissa periodiska toppar, förekommit en allmän minskning av stridsåtgärder i medlemsstaterna. Under covid-19-pandemin har denna trend fortsatt, och de största arbetsmarknadskonflikterna relaterade till...

7 februari 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 februari 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 report describes the main developments in industrial relations and working conditions in 2013 in the 28 EU Member States and in Norway, from both a national and EU-level perspective. Beginning with an overview of the current economic and political context in these countries, the report goes on

16 January 2015

This analysis of recent developments in the automotive sector in the countries covered by this report seems to support the idea that the sector’s expansion will – in the medium term – depend on the growth of emerging markets (Brazil, China and India). In these countries, the potential for growth in

08 February 2011

This annual review highlights the most significant developments that took place in industrial relations in the EU Member States and Norway in 2009, both at national and EU level. It first sets out the political context, then goes on to examine levels of coverage of collective bargaining, and trends

27 June 2010

This report uses recent findings from two observatories of the European Foundation for the Improvement and Living Conditions (Eurofound); the European Industrial Relations Observatory (EIRO) and the European Restructuring Monitor (ERM) – as well as Eurostat data, to examine trends in compensation

14 March 2010

Promoting industrial peace in the labour market is an ongoing challenge in the world economy. This thematic feature from the European Industrial Relations Observatory (EIRO) outlines procedures that countries have taken to avoid industrial action and to maintain a smooth negotiating process between

10 December 2008

In the context of global competition, it is increasingly relevant to look at Europe’s economic development in a wider perspective. This report gives an overview of the main industrial relations developments in the European Union, Japan and the US in 2005 and 2006. It charts the similarities and

11 December 2007

This report is part of a series of projects from the Foundation which focuses on aspects of industrial relations in the ten acceding countries in the run-up to enlargement. It looks specifically at the role of social dialogue in resolving industrial relations conflicts. The report gives an overview

09 November 2004

This report is part of a series of projects from the Foundation which focuses on aspects of industrial relations in the run-up to enlargement. The national report for Cyprus is part of the second phase of a project on ‘Social dialogue and EMU’ carried out by the Foundation in 2002-3, in cooperation

22 March 2004

Online resources results (504)

Poland: Latest working life developments – Q3 2016

A protest in the public healthcare system, discontent in the education sector, significant legislative initiatives and support for a ban on Sunday shop opening are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in Poland in the

Norway: Biannual sectoral collective bargaining round concluded

With most national agreements reached without industrial action, this article reports on the outcomes of the biannual sectoral bargaining round in Norway.

Romania: Protests over proposed law on wage-setting in the public sector

A new emergency bill on public sector employees’ wage-setting was adopted on 8 June 2016, despite opposition and protest from trade unions.

Poland: Latest working life developments – Q2 2016

Conflicts in the public sector, improved minimum wages, union representation for Ukrainian migrant workers and concerns about the consequences of Brexit for Polish workers in the UK are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working

Sweden: Latest working life developments – Q2 2016

Competition between unions, the launch of a substitute for collective agreements, laws on asylum seekers’ residence permits, employers’ responsibility for sick pay, and a pilots’ strike are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working

Portugal: Latest working life developments – Q2 2016

The re-introduction of four holidays and the 35-hour week in the public sector; as well as job precariousness and unemployment, are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in Portugal in the first quarter of 2016.

Greece: Widespread protests at proposed social security and tax reforms

There has been widespread opposition, including general strikes and mass demonstrations, to proposed reforms to the social security and taxation system. The reforms, unveiled in January 2016, were prompted by the need to comply with the terms of the most recent financial assistance programme

Cyprus: Latest working life developments – Q2 2016

Presidential intervention to prevent a doctors’ strike, a dispute about renewal of collective agreements for airport ground staff and social outcry over women’s exclusion from the National Guard are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments

France: Latest working life developments – Q2 2016

Adoption of the new labour code, the failure of collective bargaining on unemployment schemes and a study on the negative impact of night work are among the main points of interest of this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in France in the second quarter

Netherlands: Latest working life developments – Q2 2016

Pensions and flexible work, more rights for works councils and the latest data on industrial action and collective agreements are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in the Netherlands in the second quarter of 2016.


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