broadstrikes

Broadstrikes are coordinated labor actions in which workers across multiple industries, employers, or geographic areas suspend work simultaneously to pursue common demands. They are broader in scope than a strike limited to a single employer or workplace and are often organized by unions, federations, or coalitions that coordinate across sectors.

The goals of broadstrikes can include wage increases, improved job security, better working conditions, or opposition to policy measures seen as harmful to workers. By mobilizing large portions of the labor force, broadstrikes aim to maximize bargaining leverage and attract public attention. They may be planned in advance or organized in response to escalating disputes and can be accompanied by sympathy strikes, demonstrations, or consumer boycotts.

Organization typically requires centralized leadership or a coordinating body, clear demands, and a timetable. The legal status of broadstrikes varies by country: some jurisdictions permit broad labor actions, while others restrict strikes across sectors or empower authorities to limit or declare essential services. Public and employer responses also vary, ranging from negotiated settlements to legal challenges or punitive measures.

Broadstrikes are related to general strikes but are not universally defined as such; they occupy a space between targeted, industry-wide actions and full-scale stoppages. They have appeared in many countries during periods of economic crisis or political upheaval and remain a controversial tactic within the broader labor movement.