Today in Labor History August 3, 1981: U.S. federal air traffic controllers began a nationwide strike after their union, PATCO, rejected the government's final contract offer. Most of the 13,000 strikers ignored orders to go back to work and were fired on August 5 by President Reagan for participating in an illegal work stoppage. Reagan's action, and the inability of the labor movement to respond to the crisis, led to the rapid downhill spiral of union power and membership. For example, in the years immediately after the PACTO strike, other major employers chose to fire striking workers and replace them with scabs (e.g., Phelps Dodge, 1983; Hormel, 1985-1986; and International Paper, 1987). In 1970, there were 380 major strikes. In 1999, there were only 17. And in 2010, there were only 11. However, there was a 50% increase in workers going on strike between 2021 and 2022. And nearly double the number of workers have already gone on strike in 2023 compared with 2022, with 5 more months to go.

#WorkingClass #LaborHistory #strike #union #patco #reagan #UnionBusting #StrikeWave

Today in Labor History June 10, 1917: A massive citywide textile strike for better wages and working conditions began in Sao Paulo, lasting over a month. Workers tried to appeal to the sympathies of police and soldiers, but when this failed openly confronted them. By July they were joined by striking cab drivers, utility workers and craft workers, totaling over 20,000 on strike, the first General Strike in Brazilian history. The strike was also part of a wave of strikes that occurred from 1917-1918, which culminated in a failed anarchist uprising.

#WorkingClass #LaborHistory #anarchism #strike #brazil #GeneralStrike #StrikeWave #uprising #Revolution

With the bosses?
Never.
With the union reps?
Sometimes.
With the rank and file?
Always.

A collection of pieces regarding the ongoing #StrikeWave.

https://organisemagazine.org.uk/strike-wave-current-events/

The resounding vote by teachers in England in the NEU to reject a poor pay offer, despite government insistence that the offer was “final”, shows a will to fight. There is a fighting mood in other unions. How to make the most of it?

https://www.workersliberty.org/story/2023-04-04/strike-wave-signs-revival

#strikewave

Today in Labor History January 20, 1946: 750,000 US steel workers went on strike as part of a post-war strike wave that encompassed well over 4.3 million workers, the largest strike wave in US history. From 1945-1946, other strikes included 10,500 film workers; 43,000 oil workers; 225,000 United Auto Workers; 174,000 electric workers; 93,000 meatpackers; 340,000 coal miners; 250,000 railroad workers. Also included General Strikes in Lancaster, PA; Stamford, CT; Rochester, NY and Oakland, California.

#workingclass #LaborHistory #steel #strike #generalstrike #strikewave #WorldWar2

Today in Labor History January 15, 1946: 260,000 U.S. electrical workers struck against General Electric, Westinghouse and General Motors. It was part of the Great Strike Wave of 1946, the largest in U.S. history. In that wave, 43,000 oil workers struck in October, 1945; 225,000 autoworkers in November, 1945; 93,000 meatpackers in January, 1946; 750,000 steel workers, in January 1946; 340,000 coal miners, in April, 1946; and 250,000 railroad workers in May 1946. There were also General Strikes in Lancaster, PA; Stamford, CT; Rochester, NY; and Oakland, CA.

#workingclass #LaborHistory #strikewave #union #generalstrike #generalmotors #generalelectric #oakland #coal #miners

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https://www.organisenow.org.uk/

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#workerorganising #Tradeunions #tradeunion #strikewave

More #strikewave news as 40,000 #CWU members in Britain hold their first national strike since 1987 and the first ever national call-centre strike.

Solidarity with the CWU. All workers need a pay rise.
RT @pb4p: Solidarity with striking BT and Openreach workers in CWU on strike today.

BT Group bosses handed shareholders a cosy £750m last year - the least they could do is give their workers a fair pay rise.

🐦🔗: https://nitter.eu/paulmurphy_TD/status/1552947226149806081

RT @lesuperburp@twitter.com

#Strikewave 2021 challenge.
The media platforms the strikers. https://twitter.com/lesuperburp/status/1449036366994571273