Does going on strike really work?

In the previous 3 months there have actually been more than 10 circumstances of popular strikes. Does striking work?

Anita Rosentreter, deputy secretary of Workers First Union, stated it was typically utilized as a last hope when settlements were not advancing.

“It’s pretty much the most effective thing we can do, the most effective tool in the toolbox.”

She stated the effect would differ depending on how numerous members were included.

“If you have hardly any members and they’ve got heaps of people who are working through regardless, then that’s not going to be very effective. But if you’ve got enough people doing it to either shut the place down or to hamper things such that they can’t continue operations as usual, then it is very, very effective.

“When you’re in bargaining, there’s a degree to which you’re depending on the opposite seeing your perspective, comprehending where you’re originating from, and jeopardizing on their position to sort of satisfy you. And clearly, you jeopardize. There are numerous situations in which we simply can’t get companies to concur to a really sensible claim from members. Therefore, it’s putting pressure on them in regards to, ‘if we eliminate our labour or if we withdraw our labour, you’ll see simply how crucial we are to the operation’.”

She said it had to be done carefully because there was a legal framework that must be followed. “We need to leap through a lot of hoops to ensure it’s not an illegal strike action since if it is illegal there’s a terrific threat to the union and to members. We ensure we do whatever by the book.”

Sometimes, it was possible to go through mediation with a service such as that provided by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment beforehand, and avoid the need for a strike.

“It’s rather typical that you may go to mediation before you head out on strike. In stating that, it’s not a requirement and it’s not constantly the case since the wait list for getting into mediation is in fact truly long. It didn’t utilized to be so bad.

“In some circumstances, that’s just not plausible when workers are trying to negotiate a pay rise in a cost of living crisis, to wait around for some mediator who ultimately doesn’t have any actual authority to make a ruling or anything like that.”

Victoria University teacher Jim McAloon stated it was tough to state precisely how efficient strikes were due to the fact that it was not possible to understand what would have taken place without one.

“My impression is that often a strike, or at least a strike notice, does move negotiations along. So, yes, often it is effective and that’s been the case in some recent examples as well as perhaps more particularly, back in the 1970s, 1980s. All sorts of things need to be there for strikes to be effective.

“They are a crucial part of the working out procedure as a major action. I do not picture any union or group of employees takes that action gently. I understand my own Tertiary Education Union does not, however there is a location for it if needed.”

He said some recent strikes had made progress quite quickly.

“CONCEPT, which is a service organisation for developmentally handicapped … in 2020, the assistance employees and admin personnel there had 11 months of bargaining, which included a variety of strikes. That’s an example, I believe, of how in strike action unions typically require to be in there for the long haul. Which indicates dedication amongst members. It’s not fast strike, then back to settlements. Frequently it can drag out.

“Sometimes too, unions will issue further strike notices, and they’re in the background while mediation continues and produces a result. And that was the case, for example, in 2018 with Air New Zealand engineer and logistics workers. They were in negotiation for some months, too. Strike notices for just before Christmas might have concentrated the mind of the employer. It’s a weapon that can be used strategically in that sense.”

He stated in the 1970s and 1980s, strike action remained in the context of a mass union motion, and obligatory subscription, and it might make development quicker. “Now a much longer campaign is required. That means that the union, the workers need to be prepared for that and stick with it.”

He stated strike action now was less typical than it had actually been then.

“The other thing that I think distinguishes it from, and this is partly because of the change in legal definitions, in the 1970s, 1980s, a strike was ceasing work for usually at least a day, sometimes as many, as much as a number of weeks in the case of some big ones. Now, any sort of limitation of normal duties is defined as a strike. And so that might be a few hours away from work, it might be refusing to do particular parts of the job as normal.”

At Otago University, associate teacher Lynnair Sheridan stated research study revealed that a company’s relative power, especially with relation to its capability to endure reputational or monetary pressure, was an essential consider identifying whether cumulative action such as strikes would become concrete gains for employees.

“There may also be an interesting distinction between negotiating with government entities – such as Te Whatu Ora – and private or independent employers. I wonder whether employees in the public sector are sometimes more understanding of the constraints associated with government budgets and competing funding priorities, potentially influencing both their bargaining strategies and expectations of outcomes.

“The idea of great faith might likewise be checked out at numerous levels in the New Zealand context. How should good-faith bargaining run when a company argues that real financial restrictions – especially those of federal government – avoid a wage boost? At what point, if ever, might continued staff member needs be thought about unreasonable, and alternatively, to what level should a company be anticipated to show that its declared monetary restrictions are real instead of merely a matter of contending top priorities? There is, obviously, considerable proof from economic experts and others that cumulative bargaining normally adds to greater salaries.”

Economist Cameron Bagrie said the right to strike was fundamental when bargaining did not reach a resolution but it should be a last straw because it could create significant disruption.

“In some cases striking can have unexpected repercussions such as losing your social license or self-confidence of individuals, specifically in public sector functions. Examples here are the firemens and instructors. Keep in mind the strikes we utilized to see from airline company personnel at vital vacation points or Cook Strait ferryboats?”

Rosentreter said customers could be frustrated or impatient which would add to the pressure on workers but sometimes they could be a great source of support, too.

“Frequently you will discover that members of the general public in fact support the item of a strike and want to interact that to the company and endured a bit of trouble due to the fact that they acknowledge that the employees at their regional IKEA or whatever are not being paid enough and striving and should have more.”