Why have some governments limited the right of civil servants to strike?

Governments often limit or prohibit the right of civil servants to strike primarily because the withdrawal of their labor from essential public services can lead to widespread chaos and threaten public safety.1

The rationale behind these restrictions includes:

• Public Interest and Safety: Many governments maintain that the state must ensure the continuity of critical services. As noted by U.S. President Calvin Coolidge, there is a fundamental belief that there is no right to strike against public safety at any time.1
• Negotiation Alternatives: To mitigate the need for strikes, many states act as "model employers" by establishing permanent channels for negotiation, such as Whitley Councils in the United Kingdom. These mechanisms allow for discussions on salaries and working conditions, reflecting a desire to resolve disputes through dialogue rather than work stoppages.1
• Sovereignty: Governments are often unwilling to surrender their ultimate responsibility for determining the public interest to unions, leading them to restrict strike actions to maintain control over essential administrative and personnel functions.1

While some countries grant the right to strike to private-sector workers, many continue to forbid such actions by public employees to prevent the disruption of government operations.2