THE FIRST STRIKERS IN AMERICA

 


"The First Strikers - Workers in Strike" Woodcut Painting by Robert Koehler, exhibited in New York in 1886. Koehler (28.11.1850 - 23.4.1917) was a German-born painter and art-teacher, who spent most of his career in America

Strikes are driven by crises of the workforce. The suffering should strike work. Strike, as the last resort, should affect the ruling, not the suppressed. Reasons for strike: lower wages, wage stagnation, inflation, and cost of living. Layoffs, outsourcing, the employment instability. Inadequate healthcare, pensions, unsafe workplaces, and hard working conditions. Suppression of union activities, refusal to collective bargaining. Govt policies weakening labor protections, right to work. Income inequality, austerity measures, cuts to public services, as in the historical 1926 UK Strike, and recent strikes in France against pension reforms. Solidarity to other employees. Neglect of worker demands, unions in decision-making. Authoritarian regimes undermine democratic rights, as in Poland during the 1980s strikes. Strikes demonstrate the collective strength of workers. Multi-sector strike disrupts the economy. The 2019 Indian general strike by 20 crore workers forced attention to labor law reforms and economic policies. The 2011 Greek strikes opposed EU austerity measures. The 1970s Italian "Hot Autumn" strikes combined economic demands with social reforms. Strikes non-violently challenge authoritarianism, anti-labor policies. The 1980 shipyard strike in Poland sparked a nationwide movement, contributing to a fall in rule. Recent strikes in France, India, the South Africa focused on economic demands, neoliberal reforms, privatization, and climate change.

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