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.”
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.
Preserve the right to strike.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- union negotiations
- industrial disputes
- policy advocacy
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can workers maintain influence without striking?
- What alternatives to strikes exist?
If strikes are illegal, workers lose any real bargaining power.