Class Struggle from Above

Abstract

This chapter examines labour market flexibility and restructuring through three sections. First, it looks at class struggle from above, as indicated in the ‘best practices’ that aim to cut labour costs (insinuation). Next, the chapter provides national snapshots of labour market dynamics just as the 2008 crisis was about to hit (institutionalization). Third, it details the actions and themes that make up the post-2010 austerity response: creating insecurity; attacking labour and collective bargaining; imposing outcomes on bargaining; bypassing (or effectively abolishing) social dialogue; and controlling unit labour costs in the name of competitiveness (insulation and exposure, institutionalization). The chapter concludes by once more summarizing how this relates to the varieties of austerity framework.