All of the protests I see lately, besides strikes, are college students. Which working class protests are you thinking of?

There's been massive popular protests in France, Germany and Great Britain in the past few years. Maybe in more countries? But they don't always get media coverage. One that you should have heard of is the yellow vest protests in France.

Im French, my anecdotal opinion is the same as the Canadian parent comment: they block and destroy, propose nothing realistic and end up pissing everyone off. I vote Macron as a result.

basic hotel strikes around SF are focused on bullying customers

no one cares about how the food arrives to their plate, only that it's there.

Aren't that the only forms of protest that are allowed?

If I remember properly, offering the service for free (for instance in public transport) bear the risk of being held personally responsible of any damage or accident that would happen to anyone (which is not unlikely if you factor in provocations)