Strikes have become a prevalent topic lately, a noticeable shift in recent years. National strike affecting a substantial portion of the country seem to make headlines almost weekly. One significant concern within this surge is the issue of pay inequity, alongside the emergence of AI applications in the entertainment industry, particularly in Hollywood. The United States leads the way in addressing these concerns, starting with writers. However, AI’s impact will likely extend across various industries in our future and worldwide.
On September 15, 2023, the United Auto Workers (UAW) initiated a strike, with approximately 13,000 workers from Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis walking out. Their primary demands include a 30% pay increase, improved job security, pension benefits, and shorter work weeks.
Similarly, as of October 4, 2023, healthcare workers employed by Kaiser Permanente in four states, are grappling with heavy workloads and extended hours. The enduring effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated these long work weeks, particularly among doctors. This situation has now come back to haunt Kaiser Permanente.
Reflecting on these recent strikes prompts several questions: Why are they happening now? What conditions facilitate successful strikes, and how can society prevent them? How do relationships between workers, companies, consumers, and current events influence organized labor strikes? Factors like technology, globalization, and the post-pandemic rise of remote work also play roles.
It’s challenging to pinpoint all the factors influencing the value of both people and work. Rather than hastily jumping to conclusions about the future, it’s valuable to examine the history of strikes.
Strikes have played a crucial role in U.S. history, impacting a wide array of workers, companies, regions, and industries. They can vary from peaceful protests to dramatic, disruptive events designed to challenge and upend established institutions. Strikes involving national transportation, such as the UAW strikes, often garner the most attention
For instance, the Pullman strike in Illinois circa 1894 led to the burning of freight cars and travel disruptions in 27 states, requiring 10,000 federal troops to intervene. The United Auto Workers Union staged the Flint Sit-down Strike of 1936-7, effectively halting production by sitting down on factory floors.
In 1981, 13,000 air traffic controllers went on strike, but President Ronald Reagan ordered them back to work, resulting in the eventual weakening of the union. Some strikes symbolize profound societal unrest, like the Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike in 1968, which played a significant role in the civil rights movement.
“By the time a strike occurs, communication has typically broken down between labor and management.”
The methods used in strikes can vary widely, from subtle and quiet actions to violent or chaotic approaches.
The effectiveness and outcomes also differ.
Will these strikes lead to layoffs or new contracts and reemployment? How will they impact other industries, fostering motivation or fear? Despite the diverse methods, most workers share common hopes: fair pay, acceptable working conditions, and respect for their dignity. Achieving these goals requires more than goodwill or threats from both sides.
By the time a strike occurs, communication has typically broken down between labor and management. The key takeaway is that communication must continue, with openness to new ideas and solutions in our ever-changing world.
At Haverford, we learn the importance of communication and collaboration through various avenues like the debate team, mock trial, history class term papers, and analysis. Ideally, we leave school equipped with the tools to promote communication among different groups and extend these skills to our communities.
The prominence of national strikes underscores the impact of communication breakdowns on us all.
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