strikebreakers

Strikebreakers are workers hired to replace employees who are participating in a strike. Their presence allows an employer to continue or quickly resume operations during a work stoppage. The term is often used pejoratively, and replacements are sometimes referred to as scabs in public discourse.

Strikebreaking methods typically involve temporary hires, direct recruitment of substitutes, or redeploying non-striking workers from within the organization. Employers may contract with staffing agencies to supply replacements, or bring back former employees who did not participate in the strike. Replacements may be trained to operate essential equipment and perform tasks required by production or service delivery, and they may receive different wages, job classifications, or seniority terms than striking workers, influencing the dynamics of bargaining.

The legal and regulatory environment around strikebreakers varies by jurisdiction. In some countries, employers are free to hire substitutes to maintain operations, while laws may protect striking workers from retaliation, discrimination, or unfair treatment. Other jurisdictions impose limits on strike-related practices, mandate neutral treatment of replacements, or authorize court injunctions to preserve business continuity during disputes.

Impact and controversy surrounding strikebreakers center on bargaining power, labor relations, and public perception. The use of replacements can weaken the leverage of a strike and affect union organizing efforts, but it also raises concerns about safety, working conditions for replacements, and the broader social and economic costs of labor disputes.