Labor Protest (European Union)

The phenomenon of transnational labor protest targeting the European Union remains relatively rare. The institutional role of organized labor at the EU level in the social dialogue initially hindered protest. A surge was seen in the early 2000s but has not been sustained. Trade unions have remained more active in protesting EU issues in national contexts, and in recent years have expanded protests to a wider field via social movement unionism. This is in line with broader trends in EU protests and the politicization of the EU, but is also underpinned by long-standing obstacles to transnational worker solidarity.