In almost 1,500 biographical entries, this comprehensive, authoritative reference work covers the European labor movement from its origins to the present. The entries are selected from all countries of Europe, from Ireland in the west to Russia in the east and from Finland in the north to Greece in the south. Written by specialists in the labor history of the subject countries, the biographies focus on presenting basic factual information, leaving interpretation and argument to more detailed studies. Entries are arranged alphabetically, irrespective of the country of origin, emphasizing the Europeanness of the project in an era when barriers between European states are being rapidly demolished. A state-by-state breakdown of the entries provides an additional source of information.

Labor is defined broadly to include trade unions, political parties, cooperatives, and anarcho-syndicalist groups, but not so broadly as to include state-controlled bodies that lack democratic procedures. A selective, but substantial bibliography provides a guide to further reading. Extensive cross-referencing and a substantial index illustrate the complex links, both intellectual and practical, between labor leaders of different states and regions.