The strike is back! Just this week, more than 60,000 SAG-AFTRA members ended a nearly four-month strike with a landmark deal that includes substantial wage and benefit increases, a streaming participation bonus, and protections for Hollywood actors against the threat of AI. This week also, more than 75,000 unionized workers who waged a three-day strike at Kaiser Permanente voted by 98.5% to approve a contract with across-the-board wage increases and commitments to end staffing shortages. And on October 30th the UAW ended its six-week Stand Up strike against Ford, Stellantis, and GM, arriving at a national agreement that will bring a 25 percent pay hike and a host of major gains for workers at all three auto makers.

Way back in October 2021, a dramatic rise in strike activity brought commentators to speak of that month as “Striketober.” At that time, roughly 25,000 workers took part in work stoppages throughout the country. Since 2021, the U.S. union movement’s willingness to use its most powerful weapon has skyrocketed. So much so that October 2021 now pales in comparison to the fall of 2023, with over 300,000 workers having walked off the job. The fact that these strikes are achieving big wins for workers and garnering broad public support means there will be more to come. As they do, New Labor Forum will examine the promise and perils of what may become the largest labor upsurge in a generation.