STRIKE

A strike is a concentrated effort by a group of workers, to withhold their labor from their employer, for the purpose of creating favorable changes in wages, benefits, or working condition, or for winning employer recognition of labor union representation. There are different forms of strikes. A primary strike is a work stoppage aimed at an employer, directly. A sympathy strike is one where employees refuse to work in sympathy with others who are directly involved in a dispute. A sit-down strike happens when workers stop work and refuse to leave the employer's premises in order to prevent the hiring of replacements. A wildcat strike is one that occurs spontaneously, without formal union authorization. A general strike is an effort to stimulate a general work stoppage and has political overtones. All of these strikes have been common in the United States, with the possible exception of the general strike; a technique most often practiced in Europe, and Third World countries.

Strikes began to occur with some regularity in the United States in the nineteenth century and were regarded as illegal because they restrained trade. Any kind of strike is a test of economic strength and will. A union tries to prevent business operations and cause a loss of profits to the employer, in order to force changes. The employer tries to maintain profitability and maintain operations hoping pressures from loss of pay rise enough to force workers to return to work. During a strike the striking employees, often represented by a union, will attempt to prevent the employer form operations by picketing the employer's facilities. Picketing is the walking back and forth outside of the employer's premises by union members on strike, carrying picket signs with short statements on them relating to the issues of the strike. Picketing becomes a public announcement of the existence of a labor dispute. It also serves the purpose of giving notice to other workers and the public, asking them in effect not to cross the picket line. While on strike workers generally receive "strike benefits" from their union, a small money stipend to help them with necessary expenses while remaining committed to continuing the strike until a settlement is reached. During the 1990s there were roughly 3000 to 5000 strikes per year, most of them a result of unsuccessful contract negotiations.

See also: Collective Bargaining, Labor Unionism, Sit-Down Strike