Comment on YSK that a general strike is one of the most effective ways to push for change. There is a general strike in the works across the US for this Friday.

• geelgroenebroccoli@feddit.nl ⁨10⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

  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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  • hector@lemmy.today ⁨5⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

    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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    • geelgroenebroccoli@feddit.nl ⁨4⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

      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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      • hector@lemmy.today ⁨4⁩ ⁨hours⁩ 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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• mirshafie@europe.pub ⁨11⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

  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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  • explodicle@sh.itjust.works ⁨5⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

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

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    • mirshafie@europe.pub ⁨4⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

      Holy shit, even overriding a presidential veto for that shit. Imagine if Congress had balls like that today.

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      • explodicle@sh.itjust.works ⁨4⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

        The last time was with Trump

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• saimen@feddit.org ⁨12⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

  But even in Europe you can get backlash for it especially in a very small business. That’s why it only really works when its organised and everyone is participating.

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  • Scrollone@feddit.it ⁨10⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

    That’s why it only really works when it’s organised and everyone is participating

    So like… a general strike? :)

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• just_an_average_joe@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨10⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

  Where in Europe? General strikes are illegal in Germany

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  • Scrollone@feddit.it ⁨10⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

    I’m from Italy. Here general strikes are common.

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    • hector@lemmy.today ⁨5⁩ ⁨hours⁩ 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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    • philpo@feddit.org ⁨5⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

      Technically they are not illegal here - they are just not protected under the (very strong) strike protection laws.

      So workers in Germany could go into general strikes but they would not be covered by strike law and therefore just absent from work. Which of course is an issue - but in case of a proper general strike, what are they gonna do, fire everyone? Especially in times when there are countless positions open?

      So one would only get into trouble work wise,but not otherwise - one would not get arrested, cannot get sued (besides a very limited scope worklaw wise),etc. Only certain kind of civil servants (similar but not as common as the Pubblico Impiego in Italy) will get in trouble if they go on strike. E.g. cops, fireman, teachers, municpial clerks (but not muncipial workers and not all kind of clerks),etc.

      Which I find somewhat fair as our strike protection laws are far reaching (afaik even a bit further than in Italy) and the employer is often as fucked by politics as the staff. So it’s a somewhat tradeoff I personally can live with. (Seen from my time as an employee. These days I am a small employer,but as left as ever,and from a employers point of view wouldn’t care to much - but the nature of my business supports it.)

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