What's the deal with general strikes?

[Broletariat]

Everybody stops working for X period of time. Does this necessarily entail people going out with placards and the like in large marches and such? It seems like these sorts of actions generate a large police response. Wouldn't it be easier for most everyone that when a general strike breaks out workers just chill at their house? They're still not going to work right, isn't that the goal? Or do I have just an incredibly flawed perception of the purpose of a general strike.

[Vendetta]

the purpose of workers going on strike and barricading the factory or business or whatever is to prevent scabs from getting in. it is a strategy used to put pressure on a boss through loss of business.

[Broletariat]

the purpose of workers going on strike and barricading the factory or business or whatever is to prevent cabs from getting in. it is a strategy used to put pressure on a boss through loss of business.
oh right I completely forgot to factor in scabs, that answers that.

[Blake's Baby]

Not only scabs, but also making it known that people are on strike, raising the profile of the action among potentially sympathetic people, which you can't really do if you're at home in front of the telly.

Also, group solidarity is important - you and your workmates out together protesting together is better than the atomisation and apathy you could feel at 'right, we collectively decided on the action, now everyone split up up and go home, enjoy your long weekend'. Euphoria would more quickly turn to boredom I feel.

[Broletariat]

Not only scabs, but also making it known that people are on strike, raising the profile of the action among potentially sympathetic people, which you can't really do if you're at home in front of the telly.

Also, group solidarity is important - you and your workmates out together protesting together is better than the atomisation and apathy you could feel at 'right, we collectively decided on the action, now everyone split up up and go home, enjoy your long weekend'. Euphoria would more quickly turn to boredom I feel.
If it's a general strike I'm pretty sure people are going to know about it whether or not there's people out and about.

But yea I had thought about the group solidarity thing as a possible problem too, avoiding police brutality is nice though but I guess we really can't do that.

[Os Cangaceiros]

General strikes are very powerful events, for the obvious fact that they broaden struggles from one industry or sector of industry into others. They were essentially ended by the Wagner Act and Taft-Hartley, though (in the United States), after the explosion of industrial unionism during the 30's.

Some Marxists criticize the tactic as "crude economism", but personally I don't buy that. To quote an Italian factory worker (who was involved in the Italian Hot Autumn of 1969) in Transnational Moments of Change: "Our atrophied brains reminded us of birds which, when we go to let them free, to let them escape, do not know how to fly. I was overcome with sadness. I told myself: God made our brains not to let us think. Then, suddenly, in '69, they began to function again. We broke the cage, and we began to fly again."

Strikes (especially general strikes) sometimes provide on a microscopic scale the mechanics of the future society: workers from varying industries and backgrounds striving for common goals. As shown in the Seattle General Strike, the Minneapolis General Strike and the waves of sitdown strikes that grabbed management by the throats during the 1930's in the "Rust Belt" states.

[syndicat]

General strikes have often had mass marches associated with them, such as the 70,000 person march in Chicago on May 1, 1886. this is another way in which the people come together to show their support for the common aims.

the most extreme form of general strike is when it becomes a revolutionary mass strike, which aims to change the economic and political order, as happened in the massive national general strike in Russia in 1905. the revolutionary general strike in Spain in July 1936 heralded armed union organizations fighting the army, and then the seizure of industry after the army was beaten in many areas.

[Stranger Than Paradise]

As Syndicat mentioned, the ultimate aim of a general strike is as the starting point for a revolution. As an Anarcho-Syndicalist it is undoubtedly the best tool we have as workers today.

[this is an invasion]

Plus, it's hard to occupy a factory if you're at home.

[F9]

You are hardly making a point when you are at home, media will cover it easily, bosses will find a way around to keep the work going and your demands are not getting known.
Others dont know why you are doing it, by that you may get some of the outsiders on your side, while if you are in your house, who will give a fuck?
Those arent tactics of today, so in order of workers taking it, and not just in 1-2 cases, means they see it as the best way to push their demands.

Fuserg9:star: