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How does a lockout differ from a strike?
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Labour law
Diorite stela inscribed with the Code of Hammurabi, 18th century bce.
In labour law, the primary difference between a lockout and a strike lies in which party initiates the work stoppage to gain leverage during a dispute.123
Key Differences
- Initiator: A strike is a collective refusal by employees to work, intended to pressure an employer into meeting demands regarding wages, benefits, or working conditions. Conversely, a lockout is a tactic used by an employer to withhold employment, often by closing the business or barring workers from the premises, to resist employee demands or force concessions.2314
- Purpose: Strikes are generally used by unions to inflict economic costs on an employer to achieve specific goals. Lockouts are used by management to hinder union organization or to gain a strategic advantage in negotiations.214
- Mechanics: While a strike involves workers walking off the job, a lockout may involve literal exclusion from the workplace, layoffs, or the use of replacement workers to continue operations.13
Both actions represent significant escalations in labour disputes and can result in substantial financial loss for both parties.23