The strikes in France of earlier this summer and all last summer were of unionized government workers against the government changing the retirement and employment plans. French automotive and textile production is moving out of France to Eastern Europe and Asia. Increasingly, corporate managers and managing for (short term) quarterly financial goals rather than (long term) industrial or production goals. Many French corporations are pressuring the government (right wing) to change the 35 hour work week back to 40 hours, and I've heard anecdotal evidence that even many workers think it's less than effective.
The German automotive industry won concessions from workers earlier this year in wages and hours worked. The argument was that workers give up some of these benefits or else the jobs would be moved out of Germany. And these negotiations between ownership and workforce were quite reasonable and peaceful.
I don't see the social welfare structure being reduced, but globalization is happening whether we like it or not, and it affects everybody. Management is forced to reduce costs or be put out of business.