When employers and employees have major disagreements, it can lead to a work stoppage, such as a strike or a walkout. For instance, there was a time when Amazon warehouse employees stopped working to protest their conditions, Chicago teachers went on strike for better terms, American Airlines mechanics were legally forced to halt a work slowdown, and Walmart faced issues with its employees walking out.
Understanding labor disputes and their resolutions can be complex. It’s crucial to note that not all instances of work stoppages are legally sanctioned; it depends on the specific details of each case.
The guiding legislation for these matters is the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), which oversees the dynamic between workers, unions, and employers. Although the NLRA upholds the right to strike, it does not protect all forms of work cessation.
For a work stoppage to be legally permissible in the private sector, it must meet three key criteria:
- The stoppage must have a legitimate purpose, such as advocating for economic benefits or protesting unfair labor practices, like an employer’s refusal to engage in honest negotiations or hindering an employee’s right to unionize. Striking for these reasons is usually lawful.
- The timing of the walkout must align with legal stipulations. For instance, strikes that breach a no-strike clause in a labor contract or aim to change or end a current contract may be unlawful if certain prerequisites are not met before the stoppage.
- Workers’ conduct during the stoppage must be lawful. Engaging in violence, making threats, or physically blocking access to the workplace are illegal actions, as is staging a “sit-in” that hampers the employer’s business operations.
Legally protected strikes grant job security, where economic strikers can be temporarily replaced but hold reemployment rights. Those striking against unfair labor practices have even stronger job protections and may be entitled to back pay if unlawfully denied their jobs.
However, striking multiple times in quick succession for the same objective, known as intermittent strikes, generally lack legal protection. This was established by the Supreme Court’s decision in Auto Workers Local 232 v. Wisconsin Employment Relations Board.
The case of Walmart employees forming an organization and staging multiple walkouts is a real-world example of the complexities involved in determining the legality of such actions.
Additionally, work slowdowns, where employees deliberately reduce productivity, are not covered by the NLRA. Unlike lawful strikers, these workers continue to receive their wages while diminishing the company’s operations. Employers can challenge these actions if they prove a significant impact on their business.
A notable case involved American Airlines mechanics accused of an illegal work slowdown that led to increased flight cancellations.
Labor disputes are intricate and often involve many parties with conflicting interests. For those entangled in a labor dispute with potential for a strike, walkout, or slowdown, consulting with an experienced labor attorney is advisable for guidance through the complexities.
J. Horowitz leverages over two decades of experience as a seasoned employment law attorney in Arizona to offer insightful freelance writing on the same subject. After a successful career advocating for fairness and justice in the workplace, J. now dedicates his expertise to writing comprehensive articles, blog posts, and thought leadership pieces that illuminate the complexities of employment law.