Where is the European general strike? Understanding the challenges of trans-European trade union action against austerity

Abstract

The 2011 ETUC Congress in Athens adopted a proposal by two Spanish trade union confederations that called on the ETUC to examine the possibility of undertaking coordinated European strikes, including a European general strike. These strikes never materialized and the ETUC's European Day of Action on 14 November 2012 was less a powerful expression of panEuropean solidarity than a reflection of precisely the social division that it was mounted to combat. This article explores some major determinants of solidarity. It then identifies major constraints on building international solidarity. This is followed by a brief outline of the preconditions of collective action. The transnational campaign of dockworkers against the so-called Port Packages in 2003 and 2006 and the mobilization against the Bolkestein Directive in 2006 are chosen as examples of successful transnational action that illustrate both the challenges met by unions and the factors that favour success. The article concludes with a brief discussion of the more difficult conditions and prospects for transnational action against the current European austerity measures. Ré suméLe congrès 2011 de la CES à Athènes a adopté une proposition présentée par deux confédérations syndicales espagnoles appelant la CES à étudier la possibilité d'entreprendre des grèves européennes coordonnées, y compris une grève générale européenne. Ces grèves ne se sont jamais concrétisées et la journée européenne d'action de la CES le 14 novembre 2012 était moins l'expression puissante d'une solidarité paneuropéenne que le reflet de la division sociale qu'une telle journée était préc-isément supposée combattre. L'article examine certains déterminants majeurs de la solidarité. Il identifie également trois contraintes majeures pesant sur la solidarité internationale. Il présente ensuite un bref aperçu des déterminants de l'action collective. La campagne transnationale des dockers contre ce que l'on a appelé les « paquets portuaires » en 2003 et 2006 et la mobilisation contre la directive Bolkestein en 2006 sont prises comme exemple d'actions

European Insiders and Outsiders? Assessing the Reaction of German and French Trade Unions to EU Austerity

“…An autumn 2012 attempt by Ver.di to organise actions in towns and regions 'largely failed to find active support among local union organisations in Germany' (Dribbusch, 2015: 180), whilst a 14 November 2012 demonstration in Frankfurt attracted only 100 protestors (Independent, 2012). Dribbusch (2015) The opposition of German unions to austerity, though regularly expressed rhetorically, was therefore rather equivocal. This raises questions about the foundations of this behaviour.…”

Spanish trade unions against labour market reforms: strategic choices and outcomes

“…Later in 2012, in an effort to maintain the pressure on the government and to make it a trans-European issue, Spanish trade unions led the ETUC attempt to organise a general strike across Europe. The ETUC's call for a European Day of Action on 14 November was a partial failure, however, demonstrating the division between European trade unions (Dribbusch, 2015), as strikes took place in only six southern European countries. Still, the national effort in Spain received extensive media attention, incorporated new forms of protests and saw trade unions seeking support from new social movements (Cerrillo Vidal, 2013), although the trade unions were still leading the protests.…”

Crisis, cambio en la UE y estrategias sindicales: el impacto de la condicionalidad en el repertorio estratégico de los sindicatos españoles durante la crisis de la eurozona

“…Respecto a lo primero, algunos autores afirman que los sindicatos españoles tuvieron especial importancia en la organización de lo que se ha denominado la primera huelga general europea del 14 de noviembre de 2012 (Dribbusch, 2015;Helle, 2015). El papel de CC.…”

“…Por una parte, pusieron en marcha acciones transnacionales, siendo el punto más álgido la huelga general europea del 14 de noviembre de 2012, en cuyo desarrollo tuvieron un papel crucial los sindicatos españoles (Dribbusch, 2015;Helle, 2015). Por otra parte, CC.…”