Introduction to Industrial Action:
Industrial action means a withdrawal of Labour from the workplace, in other words, a strike. This happens when there is a breakdown in negotiations and the workers decide to withdraw their Labour. This means that the factory, or place of work, ceases to function.
It is a method used by the trade unions to put pressure on the employers to agree to the terms put forward by the trade unions in the negotiations. It is usually seen as a last resort, in other words when all other avenues have been exhausted and the negotiations are deadlocked.
It is not in the interest of the employers or the trade unions to have a withdrawal of Labour, to have a strike. The workers lose their incomes in that., and the employers lose output and sales. Therefore, both sides lose, and for that reason, industrial action is normally seen as a last resort.
The video explores some of these issues.