Burdick Law PLLC is proud to stand with the United Auto Workers (UAW) as it begins its strike against GM, Ford, and Stellantis (f/k/a Chrysler). The right to strike against private-sector employers is an important right guaranteed by Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. § 157. Through concerted withholding of their labor, striking workers force employers to recognize the fact that – in the words of the old song – "without our brain and muscle, not a single wheel can turn."
Unless a valid collective bargaining agreement contains a no-strike clause, employees cannot be fired for concertedly exercising their Section 7 right to strike. (Here, the UAW contract expired yesterday.) Of course, this doesn't mean a strike is without risk. Employers can and do hire strikebreakers ("scabs") to replace striking workers. And striking workers are generally not paid for work they don't do. That's why solidarity is so important. Only by presenting a united front can strikers successfully force concessions from employers.
Ben is himself a former UAW member. Though the UAW got its start in the auto industry (hence the name), different UAW locals represent employees in a variety of workplaces. Ben was a member of Local 7902 as an adjunct instructor at New York University, and served as a steward in Local 2865 while a law student at the University of California, Berkeley. Ben knows the value of a union in ensuring livable wages, good working conditions, and the basic dignity of labor.
If you are interested in forming a union at your workplace, you need counsel that can help you navigate the complexities of labor law, explaining your rights and how to enforce them so that your organizing drive can be successful. Contact Burdick Law PLLC today.
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