Europe's leaders are preparing for war. Workers are organising to stop it

Europe's leaders are preparing for war while workers organize to stop it. Preparation for conflict with Russia and complicity in Israel's Gaza genocide has sparked a labor struggle over jobs, wages, and military production. In Frankfurt, a student displayed a sign urging humanity's non-objectification during a school strike against conscription on September 25, 2026.

Across Europe, military exercises and alerts increased in September, with Lithuania planning Vilnius evacuations should an attack occur. The Finnish government urged citizens to be ready for potential war disruption. French President Macron convened party leaders and presidential hopefuls at the Elysee Palace to hear intelligence reports of escalating international tensions.

NATO openly discussed Russian sabotage, cyber attacks, arson, and drone assaults. Airbus workers in Spain initiated strikes on July 1 after declining a pay and conditions offer, impacting both military and commercial production. Supply chain tensions led Airbus to employ large Antonov An-124 aircraft to transport parts between facilities.

The strike threatened key military aircraft programs, including Eurofighter production in Madrid and military transport planes at a Seville site. Spanish unions noted that about 90% of eligible workers participated in the indefinite strike, seeking inflation-linked pay increases, remote-working arrangements, and sick-leave benefits.

After industry minister Jordi Hereu intervened and Airbus conceded, the strikers halted their action temporarily. Nevertheless, thousands of Airbus workers in Madrid marched on September 12 to maintain pressure. On October 1, 77% of Spanish Airbus workers approved an improved offer addressing lost purchasing power, inflation-linked pay rises, and remote-working rights protection.

The Airbus dispute demonstrates workers' significant influence over Europe's rearmament industries. In Scotland, rail unions RMT, Aslef, and TSSA demanded Scottish authorities exclude human rights-violating Spanish manufacturer Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) from building ScotRail's new suburban train fleet. CAF operates in Israeli-occupied territories, and unions warned train drivers to refuse driving CAF trains.

The Scottish Greens' co-leader called for blocking CAF from the contract, emphasizing skills needed in civilian productions rather than military activities. Dockworkers' unions across six countries planned an international day of action and strikes on October 30 to protest the Gaza war and demand an end to Israel's genocide.