Klaus Dörre on the Necessity of Strikes for Visibility

Labor sociologist Klaus Dörre argues that strikes are essential for workers to achieve visibility in a culture dominated by a tyranny of visibility. He explains that threats of longer working hours and pension reforms are mobilizing employees to protest against social injustice. Dörre emphasizes that without collective action, workers remain invisible to policymakers and the public. The interview, published in der Freitag, explores how contemporary society's obsession with visibility creates a paradox where only disruptive actions like strikes can force recognition of labor issues. Dörre's analysis connects workplace struggles to broader cultural dynamics, suggesting that the demand for constant visibility actually obscures systemic inequalities. He calls for renewed solidarity and organized resistance as necessary responses to neoliberal policies that erode labor rights.