The puzzle of trade union strength in Western Europe since 1980

Since the early 1980s unions across the advanced capitalist world have witnessed prolonged membership de cline, loss of bargaining power in a globalizing context and neo-liberal government policies, and significant decline in strike rates. The recent re cession appears to have dealt a fur ther blow to unions. In their analysis of trade union strength in Western Europe the authors argue that whilst the recent economic and political de velopments have posed serious threats to trade unions, these can also be viewed as opportunities for their revitalization. The re-emergence of tripartite relations between govern ments, unions and employers, the re surgence of general strikes against government policies and the capac ity to mobilize supporters in general strikes are interprted as evidence to the effect that some union movements have recognized the existence of op portunities in the midst of adversity