FAQ

What’s happening on May 1, 2028?

After a very successful series of “Stand Up Strikes” waged by the United Auto Workers against the “Big 3” auto companies in 2023, UAW President Shawn Fain has challenged the labor movement to take a bold stand against corporate greed and anti-labor laws nationwide.

What are people doing right now to answer the call?

Local, area, and labor bodies within the AFL-CIO have begun passing resolutions across the United States encouraging affiliates to prepare to meet UAW’s challenge, and to bargain together to fight back against the billionaire class.

Some examples:

Troy Area Labor Council Resolution
Vermont State Labor Council

Resolutions have additionally been passed by Seven Mountains AFL-CIO, North Alabama Labor Council, Southwest Alabama Labor Council, Greater Louisville Labor Council, Rochester Labor Council, and the Western Massachusetts Area Labor Federation.

More councils, area labor federations, and state federations plan to take up the issue in the coming weeks and months.

This is just the first step in preparation, helping us begin setting the table in the House of Labor for the kind of bold action called for by UAW.

Why do we need to align contracts?

Unfortunately, the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 took away some of organized labor’s most powerful economic weapons, such as sympathy strikes. In addition, many union locals have no strike clauses in their contracts preventing them from striking during the lifetime of their agreement. By aligning contracts to expire together, we can organize a way around legal and contractual restrictions on coordinated strike action.

Why are we talking about this now?

Potential mass strike action is no small feat. Organizing needs to begin now to build momentum and rank-and-file buy-in, and to allow union locals to take the necessary steps to bargain changes to their contract expirations if needed.

Why is it worth it?

Corporations and the billionaire class are using rigged labor laws and deep pockets to crush unions, despite rising popularity. Attempts to reform labor law to affirm the right of workers to freely organize, such as EFCA and the PRO Act, have been stymied by corporate lobbying and anti-worker politicians. Now, corporations like Amazon, Trader Joe’s, and SpaceX are using anti-worker federal courts to try to repeal the very laws, such as the National Labor Relations Act, that protect our right to organize and strike. 

We need to expand our toolbox to fight back against corporate greed, using the creativity of UAW’s inspiring “Stand Up Strike” against the Big Three. The only answer to an organized billionaire class, is an organized working class. We will be best positioned to win for working families, whether in legislatures or at the bargaining table, if we fight together and build from the ground up. 

What makes this different from other calls for mass strikes?

Every mass strike in United States history has originated within organized labor, and historically, Central Labor Councils served as crucial coordinating bodies for strike action. Since 1947, organized labor has been restricted from conducting the sort of mass strikes that were used to build the modern labor movement.

Despite well-intentioned calls for general strikes by activists, no efforts have built support within the organized working class or created a realistic plan and timeline of action. UAW’s call for mass strike action has both a clear pathway to make strike action possible, and a realistic timeline. It is up to us to do the work to create the plan to build support from within the labor movement.

Is this originating from the national AFL-CIO?

No. This is an independent initiative originating in subordinate bodies of the AFL-CIO, starting with a coordinated effort to pass supportive resolutions by Seven Mountains AFL-CIO in Central Pennsylvania, North Alabama Labor Council, and Troy Area Labor Council in the Capital District of New York.

Proposals in those councils were overwhelmingly supported by delegates from affiliate unions. It quickly spread to other local, area, and state labor bodies that understand and believe in the importance of coordinated action to fight corporate greed.

All supportive labor bodies are acting within the powers granted to them under the AFL-CIO’s Rules Governing Area and Central Labor Councils, adopted in 2017, as well as their respective governing documents.

Has the UAW endorsed the campaign?

No, and endorsement has not been requested. We have proactively made officials at Solidarity House aware of the effort to build grassroots support, and have maintained a line of communication to provide updates as efforts progress. Many local labor bodies that have passed supportive resolutions have significant participation by UAW locals, and in some cases, are led by UAW local leaders.

Our goal is to work closely with UAW and all labor unions to play our part in building the coalition, led by affiliate unions themselves, around UAW’s bold call for the movement to strike together, and to prepare AFL-CIO local bodies to serve as catalysts and support for collective action led by affiliate unions.

Our vision is of our local labor bodies as engines to build a unified movement, with affiliates working together to fight for the working class.

If my local AFL-CIO supports the call, does that mean my union has to strike?

No. Pursuant to Section 19 and Section 20 of the AFL-CIO Rules Governing Area and Central Labor Councils, subordinate bodies of the AFL-CIO cannot and will not pledge or require strike action from affiliated unions, or obligate affiliates to amend or propose amending their collective bargaining agreements. Union members have the democratic right to choose their bargaining priorities and whether to authorize a strike, guided by their collective bargaining agreements, internal governing documents, and applicable laws. 

As the coordinating bodies for affiliate unions, our local, area, and state labor federations can play a critical role in promoting and encouraging affiliates to voluntarily participate in UAW’s call. That includes preparing to support unions that choose to take coordinated strike action, now or in the future, as guided by their collective bargaining agreements, their governing documents, and by applicable laws.

Will this effort set common bargaining goals or targets?

Subordinate bodies of the AFL-CIO will not set common bargaining goals for affiliate unions. The right to set coordinated goals belongs to affiliate unions, guided by their membership. All efforts at common goals must be guided by affiliates, and should be supported by local and area labor bodies as requested by affiliate unions.

What if my union can’t/won’t strike?

Many public sector workers are legally prohibited from striking, and face difficult decisions whether to risk penalties for unprotected strikes. Others have legally mandated contract expiration dates. In addition, workers organizing under laws such as the Railway Labor Act face additional hurdles to exercising their right to strike. It is up to those workers to determine the best course of action for them, and their decision should be respected in all cases.

Even if your union cannot or chooses not to prepare for taking strike action, you can prepare to play a critical role supporting and amplifying collective action through other means. Consider how you can begin accruing funds to financially support future strike action, assessing whether your union should strengthen or start internal solidarity, crisis, or strike funds. As we near potential mass strike action, consider how you can prepare to mobilize in support.

What if I don’t belong to a union?

You have four years to organize one! You can get in touch with the appropriate union for your area/industry through aflcio.org/formaunion. If you are within the geographic jurisdiction of one of our signatory labor bodies, we encourage you to contact them directly for assistance. Organizing a union now is the best way that you can support the effort, and the best way to build worker power.

In the event that you are unable to strike as part of a union, we strongly urge individuals to ensure they are fully informed of the potential employment ramifications of a decision to strike. Individual and uncoordinated participation by lone employees is typically legally unprotected and can result in discipline or discharge. Coordinated action may or may not be protected as “protected concerted activity” under the National Labor Relations Act, depending upon specific facts and circumstances. We strongly advise first consulting an appropriate expert, such as a labor attorney.

Even if you cannot strike as part of a union, you can work together with friends, family, and your community to prepare to support strike action. Contact local unions and local labor bodies to ask how you can provide support for union workers, now and in the future.