What does neoliberalism mean to the European labour movement and labour representation? To which extent is this labour able to limit capital or at least effectively represent workers? The study disproves the common belief that unions in West-Europe supported neoliberal policies without any critique, betraying workers. This belief arose from the weakness of the unions. The European labour movement was organised on the national level and its bargaining positions were weakened by outsourcing, the penetration of IT in work, and the fact that the economy needs less jobs than in the Fordist period of capitalism. Nevertheless, the author still sees positive signs for European cooperation in the labour world.