Strikes and boycotting are akin to war, and can be justified only on grounds analogous to those which justify war, viz., intolerable injustice and oppression.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Hayes compares labor strikes to war, arguing they need just cause like intolerable injustice. He sets a high bar for justification.
- In plain terms
- Strikes are like war and need serious injustice to be justified.
- What can you take from it?
- Labor actions require grave injustice to be morally acceptable.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What counts as intolerable injustice in labor?
- Is comparing strikes to war helpful or harmful?
Another view
Some strikes address serious issues without reaching war-like severity.
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