Strikes
A labor strike is when union-represented employees stop working for an employer as part of a labor dispute. Strikes are often accompanied by picketing activity and can disrupt normal business operations.
Employees who participate in a strike generally do not receive wages during the strike and may experience interruptions in employer-provided benefits, depending on the terms of those benefit plans. During a strike, an employer may continue operations and, in some cases, may hire replacement workers, including permanent replacements in certain types of strikes under federal law.
Strikes can have significant financial impacts, particularly on employees who lose income during the work stoppage. Depending on the situation, employees may be expected by the union to participate in strike activity, such as picketing (see Article XII – Strikes and Related Provisions of the IBT Constitution).
While federal law protects an employee’s right to choose whether to participate in a strike, unions may enforce their internal rules on members. Under the IBT Constitution, members who are found to have violated union rules may be subject to internal discipline, including fines, following the procedures outlined in Article XIX – Trials and Appeals.
Some commonly asked questions on strikes:
If the IBT calls a strike during bargaining, would Bert Nash Center have to agree to its proposals?
No. Under federal law, both the employer and the union are required to bargain in good faith, but neither side is required to agree to proposals or make concessions.
The employer also has the legal right to continue operating during a strike and take steps necessary to maintain services, including hiring replacement workers if needed.
When might the IBT call a strike?
Under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), unions may call a strike during contract negotiations if they are unable to reach an agreement with the employer, particularly after bargaining reaches an impasse.
Strikes are typically used as an economic pressure tactic to push the employer to agree to union demands related to wages, benefits, or working conditions. While the law permits strike activity, it is ultimately a union decision whether and when to call a strike
How long do strikes last?
A strike has no set duration. Some strikes last one day, and some strikes last for over a year. There is no way of predicting how long a strike may last. Every situation is different.
If the IBT calls a strike, will I still receive my pay and benefits?
No. Employees who strike do not receive wages from the employer during the strike.
Benefits may also be affected depending on the employer’s plans and policies. In many cases, employees must pay the full cost of continuing benefits, if continuation is available.
Striking employees remain classified as employees under the NLRA, but that does not guarantee income or uninterrupted benefits during a strike.
When was the last time the IBT called a strike?
The IBT has engaged in recent strike activities across multiple industries. For example, Teamsters organized a nationwide strike against Amazon in December 2024, with workers walking off the job at several facilities across the United States during the peak holiday season (Reuters reporting, December 19–23, 2024; Teamsters press release, December 19, 2024).
In addition, Teamsters members carried out a 45‑day strike in York, Pennsylvania in 2025, which resulted in a new labor agreement after an extended work stoppage (Teamsters Local 776 and industry reporting, November 4–5, 2025).
The union has also demonstrated its willingness to use strike pressure during major national negotiations. During the 2023 contract negotiations with UPS, more than 300,000 Teamsters employees authorized a strike and prepared for a nationwide work stoppage, which was only avoided after a last‑minute agreement was reached (CNBC, July 25, 2023; USA Today, July 25, 2023).
These examples show that IBT strike activity occurs regularly at both the local and national level, depending on the status of negotiations and disputes with employers.
If the IBT calls a strike, can I continue to work?
Yes. Federal law protects an employee’s right to choose whether or not to participate in strike activity. Employees have the right to engage in strike activity - or to refrain from doing so - under Section 7 of the NLRA.
At the same time, employees should understand that unions may enforce their internal rules on members. In some cases, union members who work during a strike may be subject to internal discipline, including fines, under union rules that have been upheld under federal law.
