Why going on strike could get much harder for American workers
CBSN
Labor protests around the U.S. have surged during the COVID-19 pandemic as employees across a range of industries have pushed for better pay and working conditions. But a case the Supreme Court agreed to hear last week could make going on strike much more difficult.
In Glacier Northwest v. Int'l Brotherhood of Teamsters, a concrete company sued a union and accused it of intentionally destroying concrete during a strike. The high court will decide whether the company is allowed to sue in the first place, or whether federal labor law disallows it from suing. A decision in favor of the company would open the door to employer lawsuits anytime workers push back against their bosses' demands, affecting their willingness to strike, labor experts say.
"The strike is an essential weapon," said Eric Blanc, a labor researcher and scholar who focuses on strikes. "Companies aren't a democracy … Without a threat to the bottom line, there's no incentive for management to heed workers' demands."
