Labor strikes and the economy: a study in relationships and trends
Date
1985-10-11
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Abstract
This study will be an examination of the relationships between economic factors and level of labor strikes. We hypothesized that as a general economic welfare deteriorates, the level of strikes would increase.
The method used in arriving at our conclusion was a comprehensive annual and periodical analysis and comparisons between the two periods concerned. The years covered by the study were divided into two periods namely 1975 to 1980 and 1981 to 1984.
It has been observed that the period 1975 to 1980 saw a relatively low level of strike activity. This occurred at a time when the economic factor experienced generally modest economic growth and inflation rates, and an increasing real wage for workers.
The succeeding period 1981 to 1984 saw a drastic increase in the level of strikes as well as a general deterioration in the economic condition. Although it can be explained that the high level of strikes was due to the lifting of the partial strike ban, it is more as a result of the general deterioration in the economic condition as well as the decline in the welfare of labor sector.
From this analysis, a relationship can be derived between the state of the economy and the level of strikes. We can conclude that as the economy worsens, strikes for the specific period will increase.
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Keywords
Labor, Labor strikes, Labor union, Labor market, Labor relations