2025 Strike Wave: Workers’ Movement Gains Momentum with Historic Labour Actions Worldwide
Rising Tide of Labour Action
Strike actions are continuing to rise according to federal data, with 345 labor actions recorded in 2024 and 180 actions so far in 2025. This surge in worker activism reflects a significant shift in labour relations and collective bargaining power.
Current Major Actions
A significant development is the ongoing labour action involving 45,000 dockworkers, represented by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX). The strike has been temporarily suspended following a tentative agreement offering a 62% wage increase over six years. The impact of this action has been substantial, with potential costs estimated at $7.5 billion for each week of delay.
In the education sector, California is experiencing significant labour activity, with teachers’ contracts in multiple major districts set to expire in June. This includes substantial numbers of educators across major cities: Los Angeles (35,000), San Diego (7,000), San Francisco (6,500), and Oakland (3,000).
Industry-Wide Impact
There has been a notable shift in strike patterns. While traditionally manufacturing dominated labour actions, this is no longer the case. Recent data shows only 54 strikes targeted manufacturer employers, continuing a two-decade trend of declining manufacturing strikes. Instead, the majority of strikes now involve service provider employers (126 strikes) and retail employers (105 strikes).
Looking Ahead
The future of labour actions appears set to continue, with significant contracts due to expire. This includes 57,000 workers at Kaiser Permanente, where ten unions negotiate together as the Alliance of Health Care Unions. Additionally, fifteen thousand Minnesota Nurses members at 15 hospitals have contracts lined up to expire in 2025, following their three-day walkout in 2022.
These actions come amid growing concerns about income inequality and stagnant wages. Research indicates that unions and collective bargaining are crucial tools in addressing income inequality and improving working conditions for both union and non-union workers. However, experts suggest that meaningful policy changes are needed to ensure workers’ rights to form unions, bargain collectively, and strike.
