We’d like to think that in this day and age, workers across the world should be treated fairly. But unfortunately, that’s not the case. From measly pay, to long working hours, discrimination and abuse, many are going through the most. And all this, to put food on the table, provide for themselves, and their families.
Instead of suffering in silence, thousands choose to stand up, speak out, strike back – and even walk out. There are labour disputes and strikes taking place all around the globe, as people fight for their rights. r/WorkersStrikeBack is “a leftist, anti-capitalist, socialist subreddit” dedicated to supporting worker strikes, protests and unions. It has 144,000 members helping each other, sharing their stories and offering advice about workplace problems.
Bored Panda has picked some of the most eye-opening posts from the community. Keep scrolling for an informative look at how crazy capitalism can be. And don’t forget to upvote the ones that make you tick.
#1 How Come?
Image credits: reddit.com
#2 Controversial But I Agree With This
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#3 Not Radical To Want People To Live A Dignified Life With Basic Needs Met Bro
Image credits: ADignifiedLife
Just recently, 30,000 Boeing employees downed tools for weeks, as they fought for a 40% pay increase. The damaging strike eventually ended with workers accepting a 38% pay rise over the next four years. But just as that deal was signed, New York Times tech workers announced they’re officially on strike over unfair labor practices. It came right on the eve of the U.S. presidential election.
Meanwhile in Europe, November could see several strikes taking place in the travel industry. Tube workers are planning to down tools in the U.K. Staff at bus, tram, commuter train, metro and ferry operators across Italy want to walk out over bad pay and working conditions. Airport strikes are set down in Naples and Rome. And there’s talk of an EasyJet strike in France in the coming weeks.
#4 They Need Us, We Don’t Need Them
Image credits: existentialcoms
#5 We’re Living In Dystopia
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#6 There Are Only Workers And Owners!
Image credits: kim_siever
While strike action can sometimes be seen as an inconvenience to the public, the International Labor Organization says it’s important to remember that “strike action is one of the fundamental means available to workers and their organizations to promote their economic and social interests.”
The organization notes that while it’s the “most visible and controversial form of collective action”, strike action is often seen as the last resort of workers when they are pursuing their demands. And, as the r/WorkersStrikeBack mods wrote on the page, “we have to take action and use what power we have to hold the government (and their corporate & billionaire owner/donors) accountable.”
#7 This Is Just Capitalism Working Normally
Image credits: MorePerfectUS
#8 So Long As Our Ruling Parasites/Kleptocrats Have A Choice About It, Americans Will Never Have Universal Healthcare, Or Even A Public Option
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#9 Automate All CEO Positions!!!!
Image credits: UnionDrip
The Economic Policy Institute reported that between 2018 and 2019, the number of workers involved in major work stoppages hit its highest levels in almost three decades. According to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 33 “major work stoppages” in 2023.
Around 458,900 workers downed tools at some point in the year, in a bid to fight for their rights. 2009 saw only 5 major work stoppages. While 1952 was a bad year for bosses, with thousands of workers taking part in a total of 470 big strikes.
The Bureau defines a major work stoppage as a strike “involving 1,000 or more workers” that “lasts at least one shift during the work week, Monday through Friday excluding Federal holidays”.
#10 History Repeating Itself
Image credits: Captain_Levi_007
#11 Always With The Dumbest Takes
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#12 Shoes That Fit
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In terms of the industries affected, the Bureau notes that more than 86% of striking workers in 2023 worked in service-providing positions. Breaking it down further, the education and health services sector accounted for the “idling” of 188,900 workers, the information sector for 171,500 workers, and the other sectors for 37,300 workers. The manufacturing sector was also an unhappy place to be for many in 2023, with 61,200 workers downing tools in the goods-producing industries.
#13 Oh Hellllllllllzzzzzzz Yeahhhhhh!! A Certified Workers Striking Back Exclusive!!
Image credits: ADignifiedLife
#14 And This What Capitalism Looks Like When It’s “Working Normally”
Image credits: Captain_Levi_007
#15 “If You Only Work Hard You To Can Become A Billionaire”/S
Image credits: Captain_Levi_007
On the other end of the spectrum, global HR-tech company Remote released its list of top countries to live and work in 2024. Remote looked at work-life balance, and took into account statutory annual leave, minimum statutory sick pay percentage and the amount of paid maternity leave.
If you’re in the mood for a change, you might want to head over to New Zealand. The country topped the list as the all-round best place to be for a great work-life balance. And it’s apparently not too bad on the eye either, with its “snow-capped mountains, sweeping beaches, ancient volcanic peaks and craters, lush native forests, glassy lakes and fjords”.
Remote’s research shows that most workers in New Zealand get 26 paid weeks of maternity leave, a relatively high minimum wage, 32 days of statutory annual leave and a minimum 80% statutory sick pay percentage. They also have a universal government-funded healthcare system.
#16 No More Bosses, Banks, Borders, Or Bombs!
Image credits: Lucky_Strike-85
#17 Giving People What They Need To Survive Is Cheaper Than Denying People And Violating Their Human Rights! Housing, Food, And Healthcare Are Human Rights!
Image credits: Lucky_Strike-85
#18 Modern Day Slavery Can’t Destroy All Human Hearts
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Separate data released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) revealed that New Zealand households have a higher disposable income than the average American household. And that “when asked to rate their general satisfaction with life on a scale from 0 to 10, New Zealanders gave it a 7.3 grade on average”. That’s higher than the OECD average of 6.7.
#19 Pose The Proper Inquiry
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#20 Evergreen State College In Olympia, Washington, Becomes The First University In The U.S. To Fully Divest From Israel. This Was Rachel Corrie’s School
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#21 All Billionaires Are Bastards
Image credits: Captain_Levi_007
But as the BBC reportedNew Zealand isn’t all perfect. “14% of employees work more than 50 hours per week… And some of the government support that other wealthy countries offer, such as worker insurance in case of unemployment aren’t provided by New Zealand, while childcare costs are high and on the rise.”
#22 Isn’t It Weird
Image credits: Captain_Levi_007
#23 Exacttttlyyyyy! This Has Always Been A Pathetic Static To Have The Working Class Against/Judge Each Other
Image credits: ADignifiedLife
#24 Definitely
Image credits: Anarchist23
The country also isn’t immune to labor protests and strikes. Just last month, thousands took to the lawn’s of New Zealand’s parliament, picketing against “relentless and unprecedented attacks on the rights of workers”. It was part of a nationwide Among them were nurses, public servants, teachers, transport workers and trade union representatives.
The New Zealand Herald quoted Public Service Association national secretary Duane Leo as saying it’s the “most anti-worker Government we’ve seen in decades.”
“Government cuts and unprecedented attacks on the services we provide are doing long-term damage and risk eroding public faith in these services,” continued Leo. “Workers who keep their jobs are shouldering additional workloads. This has health and safety impacts as well as threats to service delivery.”
#25 Nice
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#26 I Have A Meeting With HR To Talk About My “Stealing” Of Company Time
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#27 The USA Is The Only First-World Country Without Paid Parental Leave
Image credits: Anarchist23
#28 Fact
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#29 Ha! I See Nothing Wrong, F**k Those Vile Corporate Companies
Image credits: ADignifiedLife
#30 Properties Are Worth More Empty
Image credits: Anarchist23
#31 “We’re Like Family Here”
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#32 What They Mean When They Say “The Economy Is Doing Great”
Image credits: Captain_Levi_007
#33 Exactly That! Rich Parasites/ Religious Zealots What To Distract You Because They Benefit Directly From Issues/ Problems. Don’t Let Them Distract You Any More! Class War Always!
Image credits: ADignifiedLife
#34 No Reasonable Economic System Would Divide Wealth Like This
Image credits: Captain_Levi_007
#35 So Tell Us About Yourself
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#36 How Many??!!
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#37 The Class Struggle Is Heating Up In The Us
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#38 The Invisible Hand Of The Market Is At It Again
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#39 Homelessness Sets The Floor For Everyone’s Wages
Image credits: Fuck_Off_Libshit
#40 Multi Billion Dollar Company
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#41 Why Capitalism Must Be Destroyed? Me: Shows A Snap Shot Of A Fucking Medical Bill Americans Get
Image credits: ADignifiedLife
#42 Based Greta
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#43 Unionize Food Companies
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#44 Liberals Are Right Wingers
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#45 More Billionairs In Shitty Submarines Please
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#46 Wage Slavery
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#47 Capitalism Requires Poverty Inorder To Function. That’s Why It Can Never Eliminate It
Image credits: Captain_Levi_007
#48 Billionaires Are Not Our Friends
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#49 We Live Under A Dictatorship Of The Rich
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#50 To Real?
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#51 The Capitalist Media Finally Admits What We All Already Knew
Image credits: MorePerfectUS
#52 How Expensive Is Being Poor?
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#53 Trans Rights Are Human Rights
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#54 Yet Another Example Of Why America Is A Dictatorship Of The Rich
Image credits: Captain_Levi_007
#55 This Weekend, Take Some Time To Remember Who Got You Weekends- And Who Might Get You A 3 Day Weekend Every Weekend
Image credits: IAmAccutane
#56 Class Consciousness/ Critical Thinking Is Key To Navigate/ Teardown This Capitalist Hellscape
Image credits: ADignifiedLife
#57 Kroger Is Committing Wage Theft
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#58 POV Your Life Living Under Capitalism
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#59 Food Corporations In The US Are Price Fixing
Image credits: Captain_Levi_007
#60 Capitalism Aka Totalitarianism Aka Feudalism
Image credits: ADignifiedLife
#61 When The Working Class Speaks…
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#62 Indeed
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#63 Nonviolence Protects The State
Image credits: Captain_Levi_007
#64 The Point Of Class Analysis
Image credits: Captain_Levi_007
