Strike action refers to a work stoppage by employees in response to grievances. Strikes became important during the Industrial Revolution as mass labor became important in factories and mines. In most countries, strikes were initially illegal as factory owners had more political power. Western countries began partially legalizing strikes in the late 19th to early 20th centuries. Strikebreakers are workers who cross picket lines during strikes, often facing retaliation, and are derogatorily called terms like "scab" and "blackleg." In Canada and the UK, various laws have governed and restricted the right to strike over time.

1. Strike action, also called labor strike, on strike, greve (of French: grève), or simply
strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike
usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during
the Industrial Revolution, when mass labor became important in factories and mines. In
most countries, strike actions were quickly made illegal, as factory owners had far more
political power than workers. Most western countries partially legalized striking in the
late 19th or early 20th centuries.
Strikes are sometimes used to pressure governments to change policies. Occasionally,
strikes destabilize the rule of a particular political party or ruler; in such cases, strikes are
often part of a broader social movement taking the form of a campaign of civil resistance
STRIKE BREAKERS :
A strikebreaker is someone who continues to work during strike action by trade unionists
or temporary and permanent replacement workers hired to take the place of those on
strike. Strikebreakers are commonly given derogatory terms like scab and blackleg. The
act of working during a strike – whether by strikebreakers, management personnel, non-
unionized employees or members of other unions not on strike – is known as crossing the
picket line, regardless of whether it involves actually physically crossing a line of
picketing strikers. Crossing a picket line can result in passive and/or active retaliation
against that working person.
Irwin, Jones, McGovern (2008) believe that the term 'scab' is part of a larger metaphor
involving strikes. They argue that the picket line is symbolic of a wound and those who
break its borders to return to work are the scabs who bond that wound. Others have
argued that the word is not a part of a larger metaphor but, rather, originates from the old-
fashioned English insult, "scab." The OED gives the etymology of 'scab' in this sense as a
term of abuse or depreciation derived from the MDu. schabbe, applied to women with the
senses ‘slut’ and ‘scold’ and 'scurvy'.
"Blackleg" is an older word and is found in the late-nineteenth/early-twentieth century
folk song from Northumberland, Blackleg Miner. The term does not necessarily owe its
origins to this tune of unknown origin. The song is, however, notable for its lyrics that
encourage violent acts against strikebreakers.
In Canada
In Canada there is no constitutional right to strike, as per a 1987 Supreme Court ruling on
a reference case brought by the province of Alberta. In Canada the federal and provincial
governments can (and often do) introduce "back to work legislation" that ends a strike (or
a lockout) by declaring it illegal. It can also impose binding arbitration or a new contract
on the disputing parties. Back to work legislation was first used in 1950 during a railway
strike, and As of 2012 has been used 33 times by the federal government for those parts
of the economy that are regulated federally (grain handling, rail and air travel, and the

2. postal service), and in more cases provincially. In addition certain parts of the economy
can be proclaimed 'essential services' in which case all strikes are illegal.[9] The
government of Canada passed back to work legislation during the 2011 Canada Post
strike and the 2012 CP Rail strike, thus effectively ending the strikes.
In the United Kingdom
The Industrial Relations Act 1971 was repealed through the Trade Union and Labour
Relations Act 1974, sections of which were repealed by the Employment Act 1982.
The Code of Practice on Industrial Action Ballots and Notices, and sections 22 and 25 of
the Employment Relations Act 2004, which concern industrial action notices,
commenced on 1 October 2005.
Legislation was enacted in the aftermath of the 1919 police strikes, forbidding British
police from both taking industrial action, and discussing the possibility with colleagues.
The Police Federation which was created at the time to deal with employment grievances,
and provide representation to police officers, has increasingly put pressure on the
government, and repeatedly threatened strike action.[12]
Prison officers have gained and lost the right to strike over the years; most recently
despite it being illegal, they walked out on May 10th 2012