The construction of a trans-European labour movement

Abstract

The first section of this paper establishes the rationale for a trans-European labour movement, based on the conditions brought about by global changes in the dominant mode of production, exchange, distribution and social reproduction, and the main specific socioeconomic circumstances in the European Union. In the second section, the main theories on the phenomenon of social solidarity are briefly discussed, as they pertain to the European labour movement. The third section looks at the limitations of the ideology, practice and institutionalised structures of ‘social partnership’, as a starting point for the fourth section, in which an account of the main existing cross-border union strategies is provided. The final section identifies and discusses some of the more democratic and counterhegemonic strategies, and summarises the main findings.