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Bargaining Quote by Paul Clark

“The only thing workers have to bargain with is their skill or their labor. Denied the right to withhold it as a last resort, they become powerless. The strike is therefore not a breakdown of collective bargaining-it is the indispensable cornerstone of that process.” quote by Paul Clark
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“The only thing workers have to bargain with is their skill or their labor. Denied the right to withhold it as a last resort, they become powerless. The strike is therefore not a breakdown of collective bargaining-it is the indispensable cornerstone of that process.”

Paul Clark

About This Quote

Source Speech: Labor Rights Lecture, 1970s, USA

Workers' power lies in their ability to withhold labor; without that leverage they lose bargaining strength, making strikes essential to collective bargaining.

In simple terms: Strikes restore workers' leverage.

Key Takeaway

Preserve the right to strike.

Themes

labor rights collective bargaining power dynamics

Mood

determined serious

Type

political inspirational

When to use this quote

  • union negotiations
  • industrial disputes
  • policy advocacy

Key Concepts

Leverage solidarity economic coercion

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can workers maintain influence without striking?
  • What alternatives to strikes exist?
A Different Perspective

If strikes are illegal, workers lose any real bargaining power.

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