cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/59378754

The calls for a nationwide (US) shutdown this Friday (Jan 30) are growing louder

https://universeodon.com/@KrajciTom/115967673993639921

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[–] 36 points 9 months ago (11 children)

privileged enough to be able

My European mind can't comprehend this. Strikes are a right for every single worker, even the most unprivileged ones (with very few exceptions for public safety reasons)

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  • [–] 18 points 9 months ago (3 children)

    exceptions for public safety

    Like nurses, firefighters... but that's exactly fucking why you have multi-industry unions. So when nurses need a raise, engineers can strike on their behalf.

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  • [–] 5 points 9 months ago (2 children)

    This is why every time deregulation in general comes up, I suggest we start with the Taft-Hartley act.

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  • [–] 20 points 9 months ago (3 children)

    To elaborate on the situation in The Netherlands: You can only strike when certain conditions are met. In short, you use it as a final measurement to force your employer to change something if other less radical measurements were ineffective.

    In this case, most employers have absolutely no influence over whatever ICE does, so I'd highly doubt a strike would be 'allowed' for something like this over here in The Netherlands.

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  • [–] 2 points 9 months ago (2 children)

    It's illegal not to show up to work? I mean on the picket line maybe. But a general strike is more about not showing up than demonstrating. What are they going to send soldiers house to house and force you to go to work at the point of a bayonet?

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  • [–] 3 points 9 months ago (1 child)

    Employees striking illegally or unauthorized can first of all have their pay withheld (which sounds obvious, but is very rare in The Netherlands). Second of all, they can be forced to pay damages to their employer. And as an extreme measure, their employment contract may be terminated without being able to collect government unemployment benefits later.

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  • [–] 3 points 9 months ago

    That does all seem rather plausible ways to get fucked. If the strike was really general they couldn't do that to everyone, but if it fizzled out they could. At least your government is not trying to create the fourth reich at the moment, albeit they are sucking enough that the 4th reich aligned far right can run as reform on fake populism and win, then all bets are off.

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  • [–] 10 points 9 months ago (2 children)

    Where in Europe? General strikes are illegal in Germany

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  • [–] 8 points 9 months ago (1 child)

    I'm from Italy. Here general strikes are common. I know that France also goes strong on strikes.

    I'm surprised they're illegal in Germany. You should fight to change that.

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  • [–] 5 points 9 months ago

    They should have a general strike demanding the right to general strikes.

    I don't see how it's enforceable, you don't have to picket, just no one shows up for work at that same time, what are they going to do?

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