Official Strike
Candlefocus EditorWhen a strike is designated as an “official” strike, it means that legally-mandated procedures for declaring and carrying out a strike have been followed. If the strike meets this criteria, the strikers are usually protected from termination or other retaliation by their employer under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).
For a strike to be labeled as official, workers must follow the specific procedures outlined in their union statutes. These may involve holding a meeting to discuss the issues, vote on whether to proceed, and then issuing a statement to the employer officially announcing the strike.
Once the strike has been officially declared, the workers should obey certain rules throughout the duration of the strike, such as: avoiding pickets on company property; allowing any deliveries to pass through the picket line; and avoiding any disruptions of the workplace.
When a strike is officially declared, workers are typically under the protection of the NLRA to participate in a collective action without fear of repercussions from their employer. This can include preventative measures, such as refusing to cooperate with the employer, in order to make the strike successful. In addition, the employer may not retaliate against strikers by changing their pay, their job assignments, or treating them differently from the non-striking employees.
In cases where the employer violates these protections, workers may be able to take legal action against the company. A legal challenge to an official strike violation can be filed through the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which will review the dispute and has the authority to order remedies.
Overall, an official strike is a way for workers to exercise their right to collective action and take collective action to improve their wages and working conditions. It provides workers with strong legal protections against dismissal or other adverse action from their employer. Although the specific details of an official strike may vary depending on the specific union’s regulations, the main things to remember are to follow the legally-mandated procedures for declaring and carrying out a strike, and to be aware of the rights and protections afforded by the NLRA and NLRB.