Labour and strikes
Democracy in action
The value of our labour
There are many misconceptions about strikes. The media doesn’t often reflect the experiences of workers walking the picket lines. The following are some myths about strikes:
As workers, our labour is of value. It is valuable to us and to our families. We exchange it for wages to pay bills, buy groceries or pay for our children’s education.
Myth: Strikes are violent and not in the public’s interest. Fact: The majority of picket lines are non-violent. This misrepresentation results from the news media’s focus on the rare scuffles that occur on the picket line. Myth: Workers who strike are acting unlawfully. Fact: Unionized workers have a right to strike when their contract negotiations fail and the members have passed a strike vote.
Our labour is of considerable value to our employer. The removal of our labour is the most powerful tool we have in negotiations. I was new to the federal public service when we went on strike in 1980. Young and without a lot of financial obligations, I was ready, knowing a strike was for the benefit of everyone and not just a few. During that period I learned so much and developed friendships that have endured.
Myth: There is nothing to gain by striking. Striking workers never recover the earnings lost on the picket line. Fact: Aside from the dignity and respect the workers gain from their employer by voting to strike, the improvements made to the collective agreement often result in not only material, but non-material gains as well. In many cases, the monetary gains made over the life of the collective agreement surpass any losses incurred during a strike. Myth: A strike has little impact on the employer. Fact: The very threat of a strike will often force
6 STRIKE MANUAL
STRIKE MANUAL 7