Strike action

Strike action (or simply a strike) is the mass refusal by groups of workers to perform work. Strikes first became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became important in factories and mines. In most countries they were quickly made illegal as factory owners had far more political power than the workers. Most western countries legalized striking partially in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century.

Further reading

• Louis Adamic, Dynamite: The Story of Class Violence in America

Classic account of the violent class struggles in America that have been left out of the usual histories and textbooks.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Jeremy Brecher, Strike!

Similar to Adamic?s book, but includes more recent history.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Harvey O?Connor, Revolution in Seattle

Good account of the 1919 Seattle General Strike, including the struggles by the IWW and others that led up to it.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Sidney Fine, Sit-Down: The General Motors Strike of 1936-1937

Detailed account of the important and innovative strike in Flint, Michigan, in which 1200 auto workers occupied their factory for six weeks.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~