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The robots strike back? Industrial action, automation and the mediating role of institutions in Europe

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  • Toon Van Overbeke

Abstract

How does industrial action influence automation? Literature claims that technology is used to disorganise workers. Employers are thought to introduce new automation technologies to disempower employees and frustrate strike action. However, there is mounting evidence that automation thrives in cooperative industrial relations. This article hypothesises that the connection between strike action and automation is conditioned by industrial relations institutions. It tests this claim using data for 14 European countries between 1992 and 2017. It finds no conclusive evidence that strike action directly predicts robotisation, but strong support to suggest this relationship is institutionally determined. Strike action correlates with automation in liberal industrial relations settings but slows the uptake of automation in more regulated and cooperative contexts. These findings suggest that in an era of accelerated technological change, greater attention to labour relations institutions is essential for understanding the conditions under which automation may unfold.

Suggested Citation

  • Toon Van Overbeke, 2026. "The robots strike back? Industrial action, automation and the mediating role of institutions in Europe," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 32(1), pages 13-32, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:treure:v:32:y:2026:i:1:p:13-32
    DOI: 10.1177/10242589261432618
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