The European Union as a New Cause of Labor Union Crisis? European Labor Unions and Rail Liberalization

Since the adoption of the first European Directive for the restructuring of railway systems (the 91/440 directive) in 1991, European rail monopolies are undergoing sweeping changes. It is not an exaggeration to compare these changes to a revolution in structure and management. This article examines whether the EU policy of rail liberalisation has contributed to changes in European Trade Union strategy and discourse. Three stages within the Trade Union response need to be analysed. Firstly, we will study the Trade Union inability to give a unified interpretation of EU challenges. Secondly, the acceleration of liberalisation has meant that Trade Unions have gradually become aware of the need to take action at the European level. This has led to the organisation of European annual social protests. Finally, due to the limited influence of these social movements on the European Union agenda, Trade Unions are reverting back to national solutions, in an attempt to mitigate the social costs of deregulation.