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What are the main reasons employees go on strike?
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Labour law
Diorite stela inscribed with the Code of Hammurabi, 18th century bce.
Employees go on strike for a variety of reasons, primarily categorized by their objectives:
- Economic Reasons: Often called an "economic strike," these are intended to improve wages, benefits, and other financial conditions of employment.1
- Labour Practices: These strikes are aimed at improving general working conditions.1
- Political Objectives: Strikes may be called to protest government policies, advocate for social reforms (such as suffrage or social security), or oppose specific legislation.12
- Solidarity and Disputes: Workers may strike to show support for other unions or to resolve jurisdictional disputes between two different unions.1
- Demonstrations: In some contexts, such as in Japan, strikes are used as a symbolic demonstration of solidarity rather than to halt production for extended periods.1
Ultimately, most strikes are designed to inflict a cost on an employer to compel them to agree to specific demands. Because striking involves significant personal risk—including loss of income or potential job loss—the decision to do so is rarely taken lightly.1