I'm not really sure why, but one day I went down a rabbit hole and started looking into strikes in Texas. Yes, the kind where you stand outside a store with a picket sign and try to get better wages or working conditions.
Actually, it only started when it looked like Pantex was going to go on strike due to collective bargaining. I was curious what would happen if it happened since they were unionized.
This got me thinking about a few things. First, I was already aware that a strike usually only happens when the employees are part of a union. There are certain protections for the workers that make them feel a little more comfortable picketing.
They also enjoy some financial protection during a strike, which is obviously important as they still have to provide for their families.
But what happens if you go on strike in Texas and you are NOT protected by a union? Are you even allowed to strike?
In short, yes, you can definitely go on strike if you want to. There is no law that prevents you from demonstrating for better wages, working conditions, health insurance, etc. However, there is a big difference here.
Texas is a so-called Right-to-Work state. This allows employers to take numerous measures, such as paying lower wages and covering a smaller share of the health insurance costs paid by employees.
This also means that if there is a strike, you could lose your job. And what is worse, you could lose your job and not receive unemployment benefits because your employer could claim that you have abandoned your job.
In other words, you were fired for good reason and in this case employers have the right to refuse you unemployment benefits. This is a very sensitive issue for employees. While Right-to-Work status has some advantages, the disadvantages far outweigh them.
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