If you and your co-workers feel you are being paid unfairly, or think your workplace treats you badly, you may want to consider going on strike. Strikes are serious things that must be done with the right information and smart plans. You should also be aware that only workers who are part of a union can take this action. If you are a non-union worker, there are other ways to negotiate with your boss, including group activities and the formation of workers' committees.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Planning a Strike Action
Step 1. Contact the national union if you are a member
If you are part of a national union or other shade organization, you need to contact them before going on strike. The union can advise you, as well as outlining the strike action requirements that must be met in order to gain union support.
Step 2. Consider the different types of strike action
Strikes are of various kinds, and all of them have the possibility of success or failure. The method you choose will depend on the details of your situation.
- Protest: This takes the form of making signs or ‘boards’ stating their goals and the employer’s mistakes. Workers stand outside office buildings and often shout or sing songs about low wages or unfair labor practices. This protest is generally regarded as one of the more effective forms of action. Protests can also be used as a way to spread information about your cause before a strike occurs.
- Strike action is useful: This type of action is commonly used in the service industry. Workers continue their work, but at a discount or free service. For example, bus drivers in Portugal who demand a raise in wages give all their passengers free rides. In this way, their superiors are forced to lose money and they gain public support.
- Sick leave: This is when all workers of a particular company or department are sick on the same day, effectively closing business that day. This method has been used since ancient times in hospitals and other health centers.
Step 3. Understand the consequences of strike action
Employers do not need to close the office during a strike. In fact, they were legally allowed to hire replacements to fill the void left by the strikers. Before planning action, look at the purpose of your strike. The reasons behind your strike can affect your employment status after the action ends.
- If you strike against unfair labor practices: If you plan an action because your employer engages in unfair labor practices--such as interfering in the formation of labor organizations--you may not be permanently replaced or fired for striking. After the strike, you will reclaim your position before the action occurred.
- If you strike for economic reasons: there is a possibility that you will lose the position you held before taking action. Even if you technically cannot be fired, your employer may hire someone else to fill your position during a strike. After the action, you can be put on a waiting list until there is a vacant position and not immediately reclaim your old position.
Step 4. Spread the word to other workers
Chances are, many other workers are just as dissatisfied with your boss as you are. Try to gather as many people as possible to be involved in your labor action. Try to approach trade union leaders at your city and state level. You can also find communities and organizations that are sympathetic to your cause.
Step 5. Create a general action committee
This committee will manage all events--among them forming other committees (see next step), hiring lawyers and handling legal matters when necessary, making major decisions to recording events and details of actions, among other responsibilities. In short, the general action committee plans, forms, and leads action.
Step 6. Appoint a member to lead a special task force
Keep in mind that you don't need to follow these directions exactly--your committee should be formed based on your specific needs. For example, you might consider combining publications and fundraising committees. However you decide to organize the committees, select individuals or volunteers who are appropriate to the tasks assigned to each committee.
- Create a negotiating committee. This committee consists of people who will be in direct contact with superiors. They will present demands for action, negotiate with superiors, and work with general committees to strengthen agreements with superiors.
- Form a protest action committee. If you are planning a protest action, you need to form this committee. They will choose the leader of each action group, plan and schedule the protest action and what will happen in the action, provide signs and boards for protesters to carry, and keep protest marches organized according to law.
- Form a publication committee. This group helps communicate the aims and reasons for the protest to the public as well as the workers. They can provide updates on changes in negotiations, raise public awareness through pamphlets, e-mails and other means, stop gossip and misinformation and invite the mass media to cover the action.
- Establish a finance/fundraising committee. This group collects action funds and manages them during the action. They can also raise funds together to help the striker pay the rent etc., talk to health care providers to help cover the striker's medical expenses, also send documents to the owners of the apartments or workers' residences explaining the situation of the strike and asking them to relax the payment of the striker's rent.
Step 7. Set a budget
Before action is taken, it is important to set up a fund that can help pay the costs of the action. In general, the finance committee will create a budget which will then be approved by the general committee. Remember to include budget factors, such as:
- Advertising costs.
- Legal costs such as paying bail to get protesters out of jail or complying with court orders.
- Financial assistance to strikers, including assistance with transportation, rent, or food.
Step 8. Make a list of demands and set a deadline for when these demands must be met
It is very important to get everyone to agree with the goals of the strike. You need to be clear about what this action is trying to accomplish and why you're doing it. You should also have a strong argument when explaining what you want.
Make sure you include demands for guarantees that striking workers will not be punished for joining the action
Part 2 of 2: Performing a Strike Action
Step 1. Negotiate as often as possible before going on strike
Always try to negotiate with your boss before you take action. You may find that employers are more open to finding ways to keep both the company and employees satisfied.
You may consider hiring a professional negotiator to represent you and other workers in discussions with your employer
Step 2. Raise public awareness
Distribute flyers and pamphlets to let people in your community know about the situation in your workplace and why you are on strike. If the public supports your actions, they can apply pressure that can help subtly force your boss to negotiate with you.
Use social media to your advantage. Email members of your community, set up a Facebook page and Twitter account to document your actions, then take photos via other social media platforms to spread the word about your situation
Step 3. Keep striking workers motivated
Strikes can be very difficult--especially for workers who depend on their wages to support their families and pay bills. It is important to keep morale high during a strike. Think passionate appeals, hire speakers to address workers and the public, and also pay attention to the needs of your group members--the affection of fellow supporters of the action can be the basis for strong friendships.
Step 4. Document your action area and maintain order
The boss may state that the striker is being rude or is blocking the entrance to the office area. This statement may result in the striker being forced to return to work. To counter statements like these, make sure that your actions are peaceful, orderly and safe. Take videos and pictures of your action to show that you're not blocking any driveways and that your group remains orderly despite the fire.
Be sure to take videos of your actions whenever an opposition member is around you--these videos will show that your actions are passionate but respectful
Step 5. Handle court orders directed against you
As previously stated, superiors can force strikers to return to work if they receive an injunction as opposed to strike action. An injunction is an order that requires the accused not to do something. In the case of a strike, an injunction may be granted to striking workers, ordering them not to refuse to go to work.
If you receive such an order, make sure you have legal representation. This is when using pictures and videos taken in your actions, shows that you are not blocking any entrances to the workplace and that your actions are peaceful
Step 6. Negotiate until you agree on an acceptable conclusion
Depending on the situation, this can take a day, weeks, or even months. You should also know that there is a possibility that your efforts will not be successful. If you didn't succeed in the action this time, and you still feel that the workplace is not treating you fairly, arrange for another strike.
Tips
- Be aware that some forms of strike action are illegal. In particular, sit-in strikes – in which workers occupy offices or workplaces – are illegal.
- Before going on strike, always try to resolve the issue amicably with your manager first.
- Do not prevent people from entering or leaving your workplace. This is an illegal act.
