What is the difference between a strike and a lockout?

A strike and lockout are both tactics used by employers and employees during labor disputes. A strike is when a group of employees decides to stop working in order to force their employer to agree to certain demands or changes. It is often used when an employer refuses to negotiate or meet the workers’ demands. A lockout is when an employer prevents employees from working in order to force them to accept certain changes or demands. It is often used when the workers refuse to accept an employer’s proposed changes or when the employer is trying to make the employees agree to concessions. In Washington state, the labor laws regarding strikes and lockouts are very clear. Strikes are generally legal, provided that the strike does not interfere with essential public services or vital industry and that the workers adhere to specific requirements. Lockouts, on the other hand, are generally illegal, as they limit the right of the workers to collectively bargain. Thus, the key difference between a strike and a lockout is that strikes are generally used by the employees while lockouts are generally used by the employers. Both tactics can be used to put pressure on the other side in labor disputes, but strikes allow employees to continue working while lockouts prevent employees from working.

Related FAQs

What is the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)?
What are the laws concerning the right to collectively bargain?
What are the laws concerning wage and hour disputes?
What is the Worker Compensation Act?
What are the whistleblower laws?
What is the Public Works Employment Act?
Is it illegal to withhold wages?
What are the laws concerning employee classification as employees or independent contractors?
What is the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act?
What is the union organizing process?

What is the difference between a strike and a lockout?

Related FAQs

Related Blog Posts