A sympathy strike, also known as a secondary strike, occurs when workers at one company strike in support of another group’s labor action. This action is typically done to show solidarity with the striking workers and to put additional pressure on the employer being targeted by the original strike. Sympathy strikes are considered under the broader category of secondary actions, which are actions taken to support the primary strike.
Legal Considerations and Regulations
Legal Status
The legality of sympathy strikes varies by jurisdiction. In some countries, such actions are protected by labor laws, while in others, they may be restricted or prohibited.
United States
In the United States, the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) offers some protections for workers engaging in strikes; however, sympathy strikes can be more complex. Under the NLRA, whether a sympathy strike is legally protected depends on various factors, including the contracts in place and the nature of the primary strike.
United Kingdom
In the UK, sympathy strikes are generally illegal under the UK’s Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, which prohibits secondary actions.
Motivations for Sympathy Strikes
Sympathy strikes often arise from a sense of solidarity. Workers may feel morally or ideologically aligned with the striking group, and thus, are compelled to support them by staging their own strike.
Example
If nurses at a hospital go on strike for better wages, administrative staff and janitorial staff at the same or nearby hospitals might stage their own strike to show support.
Historical Context
Sympathy strikes have a long history in labor movements. They were particularly common in the early to mid-20th century, a period marked by significant labor unrest and activism.
Early Examples
- Miners and Rail Workers (1950s): In many instances, miners went on strike and were supported by rail workers, who refused to transport coal.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- Increased Pressure: Amplifies the impact of the primary strike, increasing pressure on the target employer.
- Solidarity: Strengthens the bond between different groups of workers.
- Media Attention: Can garner more media attention, thereby raising public awareness of the issues at hand.
Disadvantages
- Legal Risks: Depending on local laws, participants may face legal repercussions.
- Economic Impact: Workers participating in sympathy strikes may lose pay.
- Employer Retaliation: Increased risk of retaliatory actions from employers.
Related Terms
- Primary Strike: The initial strike by a group of workers directly involved in the dispute.
- Secondary Boycott: Actions taken to pressure other employers to stop doing business with the target of the primary strike.
- Picketing: Workers standing outside a workplace to protest and dissuade others from entering.
FAQs
Are sympathy strikes legal everywhere?
Do sympathy strikes work?
Can non-union workers participate in sympathy strikes?
References
- National Labor Relations Act
- Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992
- “Labor Movements and Their Impact on Economic Policy,” Journal of Labor Economics, 2010.
Summary
A sympathy strike is an act of solidarity where workers at one company go on strike to support another group’s labor action. Often seen as secondary actions, these strikes can have both significant advantages and drawbacks, depending largely on legal context and strategic execution. Sympathy strikes have been a part of labor movements for decades, embodying the collective spirit of workers’ rights and actions.
