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Unions in Europe can and do go on strike. There's even a German word, "Warnstreik," that refers to a short strike (as short as a few hours) carried out just to

Unions in Europe can and do go on strike. There's even a German word, "Warnstreik," that refers to a short strike (as short as a few hours) carried out just to send a warning to company management that the union means business. The unions in the transit sector are extremely active in Germany and France. As we speak, Paris is at standstill because of a massive transit strike.[0] 0. https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20221110-unions-warn-of-indefinite-paris-transport-strike-in-fight-to-boost-wages https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20221110-unions-warn-of-indefin...

bombcar 4y ago
More strikes indicates the union is less powerful - a powerful union never has to strike, because they always get what they want just through fear of a strike.
- DiogenesKynikos 4y ago
  I think you have it backwards. Unless the threat is exercised every once in a while, it is not taken seriously. German and French companies know that unions are capable of and willing to go on strike if their demands are not met. That gives companies a much larger incentive to make concessions. The Warnstreiks I mentioned earlier are a tool for reminding companies every once in a while that the possibility of a strike exists. They're often used during contract negotiations, when the union doesn't feel the company is giving enough.
  - bombcar 4y ago
    So unless we nuke a country every once in awhile it's not taken seriously? The last rail strike was adverted at the last moment, like it often is, so I suspect the railroad union is not weak.
    - DiogenesKynikos 4y ago
      I'm going to suggest that nuclear weapons and labor strikes are sightly different types of things.
      - bombcar 4y ago
        Sure, but the point is that you can have a tool/weapon that the very fear of using it is enough to get people in line. The teacher's unions very rarely strike, they must be very weak?
        DiogenesKynikos 4y ago
        Given the low salaries and poor working conditions that teachers in the US generally face, yes. It seems, however, that teachers are getting fed up, and there's finally been a bit more strike activity by teachers in the US over the last 4 years.
    - dv_dt 4y ago
      The railroad union settled without strike for no sick days. It is weak.

bombcar 4y ago

More strikes indicates the union is less powerful - a powerful union never has to strike, because they always get what they want just through fear of a strike.

DiogenesKynikos 4y ago
I think you have it backwards. Unless the threat is exercised every once in a while, it is not taken seriously. German and French companies know that unions are capable of and willing to go on strike if their demands are not met. That gives companies a much larger incentive to make concessions. The Warnstreiks I mentioned earlier are a tool for reminding companies every once in a while that the possibility of a strike exists. They're often used during contract negotiations, when the union doesn't feel the company is giving enough.
- bombcar 4y ago
  So unless we nuke a country every once in awhile it's not taken seriously? The last rail strike was adverted at the last moment, like it often is, so I suspect the railroad union is not weak.
  - DiogenesKynikos 4y ago
    I'm going to suggest that nuclear weapons and labor strikes are sightly different types of things.
    - bombcar 4y ago
      Sure, but the point is that you can have a tool/weapon that the very fear of using it is enough to get people in line. The teacher's unions very rarely strike, they must be very weak?
      - DiogenesKynikos 4y ago
        Given the low salaries and poor working conditions that teachers in the US generally face, yes. It seems, however, that teachers are getting fed up, and there's finally been a bit more strike activity by teachers in the US over the last 4 years.
  - dv_dt 4y ago
    The railroad union settled without strike for no sick days. It is weak.