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Strikes

Strikes are either organized or general labor stoppages in order to express disapproval and to cause a change in behavior, action, policy or contract. 

The National Labor Relations Act protects the rights of workers “to engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection.” Strikes are included among the concerted activities protected for employees by this section. The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the right of employees to go on strike whether they have a union or not.

Strikes can be organized by the workers of a specific employer or field and less commonly, all workers of a specific geography.

Strikes are powerful tools as they make use of one of the most valuable assets of the average person: the contribution of their labor.

Civil stewards understand the importance of collective action.

What You Can Do

Labor organizing is an incredible asset for workers regardless of their field or sector of employment. Labor unions have also played an incredible role in the history of this country, the development of worker protections, and assurances of fairer compensation.

You can get involved with your existing labor union or look into options for organizing or supporting labor unions in your area. Likewise, the organization of broader, general labor strikes remain an option for civil protest.

Economics

One of the most common causes of a strike is fair compensation, benefits and economic conditions.

Rights

Worker rights and considerations are a common goal for strike outcomes.

Conditions

Workers (and other classes of people) strike for an improvement in their conditions be it related to employment or to their current status in society.

Readings & Resources

Institutions & Organizations

National Labor Relations Board

“In 1935, Congress passed the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”), making clear that it is the policy of the United States to encourage collective bargaining by protecting workers’ full freedom of association. The NLRA protects workplace democracy by providing employees at private-sector workplaces the fundamental right to seek better working conditions and designation of representation without fear of retaliation.”

Strike For Our Rights

“Strike For Our Rights is a non-profit organization devoted to empowering workers in the United States to leverage the value of their labor as a tool for collective action.”

Bureau of Labor Statistics Worker Stoppages

“The Work Stoppages program provides monthly and annual data of major work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers lasting one full shift or longer. The monthly and annual data show the establishment and union(s) involved in the work stoppage along with the location, the number of workers and the days of idleness.”

AFL-CIO Strike Map

“The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) works tirelessly to improve the lives of working people. We are the democratic, voluntary federation of 63 national and international labor unions that represent more than 15 million working people.”

Books

Chokepoint Capitalism

We Are the Union

Strike

On the Line

A History of America in Ten Strikes

A Collective Bargain

Copper Crucible

Labor’s Partisans

Workers’ Movements and Strikes in the Twenty-First Century

The Great Escape

The Broken Table

Blazing the Way

Women Strike for Peace

Breaking the Ice Ceiling

Birth Strike

Three Strikes

Women Strikers Occupy Chain Stores, Win Big

The Thibodaux Massacre

Historical Dictionary of Organized Labor

From the Jaws of Victory

The Union of Their Dreams

The Pullman Strike

The Pullman Boycott

The Great Steel Strike and its Lessons