Labor Strike

Strike is a very powerful weapon used by trade unions and other labor
associations to get their demands accepted. It generally involves quitting of work by a
group of workers for the purpose of bringing the pressure on their employer so that their
demands get accepted. When workers collectively cease to work in a particular industry,
they are said to be on strike.
According to Industrial Disputes Act 1947, a strike is “a cessation of work by a
body of persons employed in an industry acting in combination; or a concerted refusal of
any number of persons who are or have been so employed to continue to work or to
accept employment; or a refusal under a common understanding of any number of such
persons to continue to work or to accept employment”. 
This definition throws light on a few aspects of a strike. Firstly, a strike is a
referred to as stoppage of work by a group of workers employed in a particular industry.
Secondly, it also includes the refusal of a number of employees to continue work under
their employer. 
In a strike, a group of workers agree to stop working to protest against something
they think is unfair where they work. Labors withhold their services in order to
pressurize their employment or government to meet their demands. Demands made by
strikers can range from asking for higher wages or better benefits to seeking changes in
the workplace environment. Strikes sometimes occur so that employers listen more
carefully to the workers and address their problems.

Strike Then and Now

The word “ strike” was first used in 1700s, and probably comes from to notion of
dealing a blow to the employer. In 1786, a group of printers in Philadelphia requested a
raise and the company rejected it. They stopped working in protest and eventually
received their raise. 
Today, to have a strike, one must have a union or an organization of workers that
bargain collectively with an employer. Workers form unions because an individual
worker is powerless compared to an employer, who can set low wages and long
working hours as long as it adheres to labor laws. When workers combine to form a
union, they collectively have enough power to negotiate with the employer. The main
weapon the union has against the employer is the threat of a strike action.

Different Reasons Why Workers Go on Strikes

 Dissatisfaction with company policy
 Salary and incentive problems
 Increment not up to the mark
 Wrongful discharge or dismissal of workmen
  Withdrawal of any concession or privilege
 Hours of work and rest intervals
 Leaves with wages and holidays
 Bonus, profit sharing, provident fund and gratuity

Types of Strike
1) Economic Strike
 Under this type of strike, labors stop their work to enforce their economic
demands such as wages and bonus. In these kinds of strikes, workers ask for increase
in wages, allowances like traveling allowance, house rent allowance, bonus and other
facilities such as increase in privilege leave and casual leave. 
2) Sympathetic Strike
When workers of one unit or industry go on strike in sympathy with workers of
another unit or industry who are already on strike, it is called a sympathetic strike. The
members of other unions involve themselves in a strike to support or express their
sympathy with the members of unions who are on strike in other undertakings. For
example, the workers of sugar industry may go on strike in sympathy with their fellow
workers of the textile industry who may already be on strike.
3) General Strike
It means a strike by members of all or most of the unions in a region or an
industry. It may be a strike of all the workers in a particular region of industry to force
demands common to all the workers. These strikes are usually intended to create
political pressure on the ruling government, rather than on any one employer. It may
also be an extension of the sympathetic strike to express generalized protest by the
workers. 
4) Sit down Strike
In this case, workers do not absent themselves from their place of work when
they are on strike. They keep control over production facilities. But do not work. Such a
strike is also known as 'pen down' or 'tool down' strike. Workers show up to their place
of employment, but they refuse to work. They also refuse to leave, which makes it very
difficult for employer to defy the union and take the workers' places. 
5) Slow Down Strike
Go-slow is yet another form of industrial protest in which workmen do not stop
the work but deliberately slow-down the process of production in order to cause loss of
production to the employer. It must be noted that there is no cessation of work at all,
and in fact, workmen pretend themselves as engaged in doing their work.
6) Wild cat strikes
These strikes are conducted by workers or employees without the authority and consent
of unions. 
7) All-out strike 
A strike that embraces all workers involved in a dispute and that will continue for
‘as long as it takes’ to secure a settlement. All-out strikes can be contrasted with
selective strikes that involve only a proportion of the workforce and protest strikes that
may last for only a day or two.
8) Jurisdictional Strike
It refers to a concerted refusal to work undertaken by a union to assert its members
right to particular job assessments and to protest the assignment of disputed work to
members of another union or to unorganized workers.
9) Recognition Strike
It is a kind of strike forcing employers to recognize and deal with them.
Basic Right of Workers
An act to strengthen the constitutional right of workers to self-organization and
free collective bargaining and to penalize unfair labor practices.
Sec.1. Articles 244 and 247 of Presidential Decree Number 442, as amended,
otherwise known as the labor code of the Philippines, are hereby further amended as
follows:
Art. 244 Coverage and Employees’ Right to Self-organization
All persons employed in commercial, industrial and agricultural enterprise and in
religious, charitable, medical or educational institutions whether operating for profit or
not, shall have the right to self-organization of their own choosing for purpose of
collective bargaining.

The Economic Effects of A Strike for Both Parties

The employer is likely to lose money due to delayed service to clients or to lost
production time. The employees will lose their pay due to the no work, no pay principle.
If the strikers are dismissed they will lose their livelihoods altogether. 
The Effects of A Strike on the Employment Relationship 
Once the strike is over, even if the business has not been closed down by it, the
feelings of hostility resulting from the strike can severely damage teamwork, productivity
and profitability. 
How to Minimise the Damage Caused by a Strike
 Employees should allow the business to continue to run in order to avert the
likelihood of a closure that could result in job losses. Employers should use the services
of a reputable labour broker who can provide alternative labour during the strike. Both
parties should behave in a civil and professional manner towards each other.
1. Bridge the worker-management divide.
2. Practice empathy.
Organizations that practice empathy and keep their finger on the pulse of their
workers are much more likely to be successful in bringing divides and creating solutions
that work for everyone involved. Trained mediators can also play an integral role in
helping to solve complex or heated disputes.
3. Maintain a positive attitude.
Arrogant attitudes from management can easily stir resentment and discontent.
4. Allow for worker autonomy.
In a healthy working environment, employees take initiative to excel in order to
bring about a sense of personal accomplishment; if they simply fear punishment or
expect disrespectful behavior, they aren’t likely to push past the bare minimum required.
It’s also important to keep in mind that employees don’t work for money only.
They also work for what the iconic psychologist Abraham Maslow called “self-
actualization” — the realization or fulfillment of one’s talents and skills. Helping your
employees achieve this or least helping them work toward it can go a long way in
boosting overall employee satisfaction.
5. Provide employees with the information they need.
When entering into labor disputes, many employees will assume that they are
getting a significantly worse deal than their peers in similar industries.
But if this is not the case — if your company’s pay and benefits package are in
fact competitive within the industry — it’s important to communicate this honestly,
providing relevant information and data when possible.
Avoid being defensive, though, and approach this in a clear, professional
manner. One of the best ways to end a strike is to listen first, gather the information you
need, and then come back with potential solutions. Avoiding hasty decisions will benefit
your business in the long run.
6. Consider appearances.
Perks like executive dining rooms, giant offices, and luxurious company cars are
now considered old-fashioned excesses — and are often a source of worker
resentment. In fact, one of the best strategies that businesses can adopt to avoid
industrial action is often the easiest: engaging with workers.
7. Consider employee safety.
Workers who see their employers are doing everything possible to keep the staff
safe and healthy feel more valued than workers who see evidence that they are on the
losing side of a cost-benefit analysis. The prevention of strike and lockout sometimes
comes down to the basics — instilling workers with the feeling that they are respected.
If there is a need to cut costs, this is never the place to do it.
The Importance of Knowing How to Prevent Strikes
The best solutions to strikes make workers feel like they have a voice in the
workplace. If there is a problem, they want to be heard, they want to know there is a
process in place to resolve it. Keeping these tips in mind as you navigate potential or
existing work stoppages will help ensure you know how to handle an employee strike —
without risking your company’s bottom line, resources, and much-needed labor and
talent.