Key facts
- Portugal, Italy, Spain, and France had the highest number of strikes in the EU in Q1 2026.
- Transport, education, healthcare, and public administration were the most affected sectors.
- Wages and the rising cost of living were identified as primary drivers for strikes.
- Union membership has declined significantly across the OECD, with exceptions like Belgium.
- 2025 is projected to be a record year for strikes in the EU since 1991.
In the early part of 2026, Europe experienced widespread demonstrations, impacting daily life and services. Data analysed from Portugal, Italy, Spain, and France revealed these nations had the highest number of strikes among seven EU countries during the first quarter.
These industrial actions predominantly affected the transport, education, healthcare, and public administration sectors. Specific incidents included an Italian police strike advocating for better working conditions following assaults on officers, and a Portuguese nationwide strike protesting a new labour package.
Conversely, the Netherlands recorded a significantly lower number of strikes. Traditionally, countries like Germany, the Netherlands, and Austria see fewer industrial actions compared to others in the EU. However, preliminary data indicates that 2025 is on track to be a record year for strikes across the EU since 1991.
As of 2024, wage stagnation, particularly in relation to inflation and the rising cost of living, was the most common reason for major strikes. The share of union members has also seen a substantial decline, falling from 30% in 1985 to 15% between 2023 and 2024 across OECD countries, with Belgium being a notable exception.
Unionisation remains stronger in the public sector, with 41.3% of employees unionised in 2024, compared to 10.1% in the private sector. The coverage of collective agreements has also decreased over the past three decades, especially in Central and Eastern European nations.