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Older photo of men holding signs on strike.
Labor Unions
  1. U.S. Labor Unions in the 1940s
  2. U.S. Unions in the Cold War
  3. Public worker unions in the United States
  4. Decline in Strike Activity in the US
  5. Union Membership Across the United States
  6. Right-to-Work Laws
  7. Types of Unions in the United States
  8. The AFL-CIO
  9. Labor Contracts in the United States
  10. Strikes in the United States
  11. What Happens During a Strike
  12. Long Strikes and Violence
  13. The 1964 Civil Rights Act
  14. Union Campaign Contributions and Political Influence
  15. Unions and Politics
  16. U.S. Unions in the 90s and Today
  17. Important U.S. Labor Leaders: George Meany
  18. Important U.S. Labor Leaders: John L. Lewis
  19. Important U.S. Labor Leaders: Walter Reuther
  20. Important U.S. Labor Leaders: A. Philip Randolph
  21. Important U.S. Labor Leaders: Jimmy Hoffa
  22. Important U.S. Labor Leaders: Caesar Chavez
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A group of strikers beat a scab worker.
A scab is attacked by Ford strikers in April 1941.
Photo from the Detroit News. Photo by Milton Brooks.
What Happens During a Strike
During a strike the company loses money every day that striking workers are able to shut down production. Often companies try to bring in new workers to take the place of striking workers. These new workers must cross lines of picketing strikers to enter the workplace. This usually upsets the strikers very much. Striking workers call these new workers "scabs" and other derogatory names and try to prevent them from entering the workplace. Strikes are only effective as long as the workers stay united in their struggle against management. Strikers receive no pay during a strike, but the union usually has a strike fund from which they pay workers a small amount so they and their families can survive. Other unions often contribute to the strike fund, knowing they will get help if they go on strike in the future.
Special Terms: strike  |  scabs  |  strike fund

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