If an employee were to answer the question of "What is the purpose of strike action?" the likely answer would be to elicit change, but an employer's view will likely differ.

So what is the purpose of strike action?

Typically, strike action involves a group of employees who, with the help of a trade union, have come to a stalemate in discussions about changes to contracts and/or working conditions.

UK strike action

The summer of 2022 in the UK has seen an increase in the number of strikes across large companies, including Amazon, bus and train services and other unions ballotting their members, including universities and nursing professions.

The debate

The debate around the UK strikes divided the general public, many in solidarity with the workers and others feeling like workers "should just get on with it" as "we are all in the same boat financially". A narrow view that looks at only the financial side of the situation.

Many workers, especially in the public sector, have had annual pay increases capped and are now facing further real-term cuts.

But it's not just employee pay that is up for debate here; there are also talks of changing contractual terms such as working hours, the amount of holiday available and start times to make changes within the businesses, but is it effective?

Is strike action effective?

Whether strike action or industrial action, as it is also known, is effective largely depends on which side you are on and what level of compromise you have.

From an employee perspective, the best-case scenario would be that all the demands are met with minimal disruption.

Unfortunately, by their very nature, they are disruptive to many people, including the general public—just one of the disadvantages of strikes.

Unions will likely have a slightly different perspective on what they see as a success and whether the purpose was achieved.

So, what is the purpose of strike action? To make change.