Timeline of strikes in 1984

In 1984, a number of labour strikes, labour disputes, and other industrial actions occurred.

Background

A labour strike is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. This can include wildcat strikes, which are done without union authorisation, and slowdown strikes, where workers reduce their productivity while still carrying out minimal working duties. It is usually a response to employee grievances, such as low pay or poor working conditions. Strikes can also occur to demonstrate solidarity with workers in other workplaces or pressure governments to change policies.

Timeline

Continuing strikes from 1983

• 1983 Arizona copper mine strike, 3-year strike by Phelps Dodge copper miners, represented by the United Steelworkers.
• 1983-85 Bolivian protests, including strikes, against austerity policies adopted by the government of Hernán Siles Zuazo in Bolivia.^[1][2][3]
• 1983-85 Continental Airlines strikes, series of strikes by Continental Airlines workers, including a 25-month pilots' strike.^[4][5]
• 1983-84 Douglas Aircraft strike, 16-week strike by Douglas Aircraft Company workers in the United States over wages.^[6][7]
• 1982-84 French auto strikes fr strikes led by immigrant workers in the automobile industry in France against low salaries and discrimination.^[8]
• 1983-84 Sagunto strikes, series of strikes and protests in Sagunto, Spain, over the closure of the Altos Hornos del Mediterráneo steel plant in the city.^[9][10]
• 1983 Suriname bauxite strike, by bauxite miners in Suriname against tax increases designed to qualify the country for an International Monetary Fund loan.^[11][12]

January

• Moroccan Intifada of 1984, including strikes, in Morocco over rising food and education costs resulting from International Monetary Fund structural adjustment policies.
• 1984 Uruguayan strikes, series of strikes against the Civic-military dictatorship of Uruguay, resulting in the 1984 Uruguayan general election.^[13][14]

February

• 1984 Ecuadorian oil strike, strike by oilfield workers in Lago Agrio, Ecuador, over road, electricity, and water conditions.^[15]

March

• 1984 Indian dockworkers' strike, strike by dock workers in India calling for wage parity with steelworkers.^[16]
• 1984–1985 United Kingdom miners' strike, year-long strike by coal miners in the United Kingdom, represented by the National Union of Mineworkers against layoffs.

April

• 1984 Las Vegas casinos strike, 75-day strike by casino workers in Las Vegas, United States, breaking the record for the longest gaming strike in American history.^[17][18]

May

• Anti-Duvalier protest movement, including strikes, against the dictatorship of Jean-Claude Duvalier in Haiti.^[19]
• Cammell Laird Shipyard occupation
• 1984 West Germany metalworkers' strike, 7-week strike by metalworkers in West Germany, represented by IG Metall, calling for the introduction of a 35-hour work week.^[20][21]

June

• 1984 Iberia strikes, series of strikes by Iberia workers in Spain; including a 36-day strike by pilots over wages^[22] and a later strike by maintenance workers demanding union recognition.^[23]
• 1984 Israeli broadcast strike, 2-week strike by Israel Broadcasting Authority TV and radio workers in Israel.^[24][25]
• 1984 Merck strike, 3-month strike by Merck & Co. workers in the United States over cost-of-living.^[26][27]
• 1984 Minnesota nurses' strike, 38-day strike by nurses in Minnesota, United States, over working conditions and job security; one of the largest nursing strikes in American history at that point.^[28][29]

July

• Dunnes Stores strike, by Dunnes Stores shop workers in Ireland, represented by the Irish Distributive and Administrative Trade Union, refusing to handle produce from apartheid South Africa.
• 1984 Globe Steel strike, 4-year strike by Globe Steel Corporation steelworkers in the Philippines, the longest strike in the country's history.^[30][31]
• 1984 LILCO strike, 5-week strike by Long Island Lighting Company workers in the United States.^[32][33]
• 1984 New York hospital strike, 47-day strike by hospital workers in New York State, the largest healthcare strike in New York history at that point.^[34][35][36]
• 1984 United Kingdom dock strikes, strikes by dockwokers in the United Kingdom, including a 10-day strike in July^[37] and a 3-week strike in September,^[38] in sympathy with the 1984–1985 United Kingdom miners' strike.^[39]
• 1984 US military bases strike in Greece, 27-day strike by Greek workers at American military bases in Greece.^[40][41]

August

• 1984 Mount Vernon Hospital strike, 2-month strike by hospital workers at the Mount Vernon Hospital, New York, the longest strike in the hospital's history.^[42]
• 1984 Victoria Brewery strike, 5-day strike by Victoria Brewery workers in Nicaragua over a five-year wage freeze, the first strike in the country since 1979.^[43][44]

September

• 1984 Disneyland strike, 22-day strike by Disneyland workers in California, United States, the longest strike in Disneyland history at that point.^[45][46]
• 1984 Palestinian prisoners' hunger strike, 10-day hunger strike by Palestinians imprisoned by Israel in Al-Junaid Prison in Nablus over prison conditions.^[47][48][49]
• 1984 San Francisco restaurant strike, 95-day strike by restaurant workers in San Francisco, United States.^[50]
• 1984–1985 Yale strike, strike by Yale University clerical workers in the United States.^[51][52][53]

October

• 1984 General Motors Canada strike, 13-day strike by General Motors Canada autoworkers.^[54][55]
• 1984 Louisville Orchestra strike, 2-month strike by Louisville Orchestra musicians.^[56]
• 1984 Old Original Bookbinder's strike, 2-month strike by workers at the Old Original Bookbinder's restaurant in Philadelphia, United States, over health benefits.^[57]

November

• 1984–85 Eaton's strike, by Eaton's workers in Canada, represented by the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union.

December

• 1984 Air New Zealand strike, by Air New Zealand flight attendants.^[58]

Changes in legislation affecting strikes

In the United Kingdom, the government of Margaret Thatcher passed the Trade Union Act 1984.

In Nicaragua, the Sandinista National Liberation Front-led Junta of National Reconstruction lifts a two-year ban on strikes in August. In September, pro-government unions passed a resolution voluntarily abandoning the use of strikes to settle labour disputes.^[59]

References

1. "Bolivian General Strike Ends". The New York Times. 17 April 1984. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
2. O'Neill, Blaine (12 October 2010). "Bolivian workers overthrow president, 1983-1985". Global Nonviolent Action Database. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
3. Reddebrek (18 January 2017). "1983-85: Bolivian Protests and Strikes Defeat President". LibCom. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
4. "Pilots strike against Continental ends". UPI. 1 November 1985. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
5. "Continental Pilots Refuse to Back Strike By Airline Mechanics". The Washington Post. 14 August 1983. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
6. "DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT STRIKE ENDS". The New York Times. 10 February 1984. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
7. "The nearly 7,000 workers striking McDonnell Douglas in three..." UPI. 20 October 1983. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
8. Gay, Vincent (16 April 2022). "Avril 1982, la révolte des OS pour la dignité". L'Humanité. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
9. Roberts, Lawrence (14 September 1983). "Spanish steel town fights for its life". UPI. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
10. Muñoz, Manuel (5 March 1983). "Cronología de un largo de conflicto". El Pais. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
11. Lemoyne, James (22 December 1983). "SURINAME SHAKEN BY LABOR UNREST". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
12. "SECOND REPORT ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN SURINAME". Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. 2 October 1985. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
13. Becker, Meghan Auker (21 February 2010). "Uruguayans general strike against the military government, 1984". Global Nonviolent Action Database. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
14. Reddebrek (16 January 2017). "1984: Uruguay General Strike". LibCom. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
15. "AROUND THE WORLD; Ecuador's Army Guards Oilfields in Strike". The New York Times. 2 March 1984. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
16. "New Offer in Strike in India". The New York Times. 25 March 1984. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
17. "The longest gaming strike in history ended Friday at..." UPI. 15 June 1984. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
18. Ross, McKenna (28 September 2023). "Las Vegas' last citywide strike was nearly 40 years ago — PHOTOS". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
19. Roseberry-Polier, Alison (24 April 2011). "Haitians overthrow regime, 1984-1986". Global Nonviolent Action Database. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
20. Tagliabue, John (21 June 1984). "A BITTER AND PUZZLING GERMAN STRIKE". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
21. Drozdiak, William (1 July 1984). "West German Strike Leaves Bitter Legacy". The Washington Post. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
22. "Pilots for Iberia End Strike". The New York Times. 25 July 1984. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
23. "Iberia Airline Strike Goes On". The New York Times. 17 September 1984. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
24. "Israel Radio-TV Strike Ends". The New York Times. 30 June 1984. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
25. "Israelis Turn to Jordan, Lebanon for Tv As Journalists Stage Strike". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 18 June 1984. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
26. "Nearly 4,000 workers in five states went on strike..." UPI. 4 June 1984. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
27. "Workers at Merck Vote to End Strike". The New York Times. 15 September 1984. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
28. Fox, William (2 June 1984). "Nurse strike, largest in history, hits Twin Cities". UPI. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
29. Nathanson, Iric (7 June 2010). "Remembering the 1984 nurses strike". MinnPost. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
30. Quimpo, Susan F. (22 September 2015). "IN PHOTOS: 1980s strike at Globe Steel". Rappler. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
31. Chan, Carolyn; Nunez, Enrique (January 1987). "Picketline". Bachelor's Theses.
32. Gruson, Lindsey (27 July 1984). "IN LILCO STRIKE TALKS, EXPERIENCE AND DEDICATION ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TABLE". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
33. Wald, Matthew L. (19 August 1984). "DID LILCO STRIKE REAP SAVINGS". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
34. Sullivan, Ronald (7 August 1984). "HOSPITAL STRIKE'S VIOLENCE INCREASES". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
35. Sullivan, Ronald (29 August 1984). "HOSPITAL WORKERS END 47-DAY STRIKE; VOTE IS 19,332 TO 98". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
36. "The New York hospital strike: The inside story". Hospital Security and Safety Management. 5 (6): 5–10. 1984. PMID 10268609.
37. "PACT TO END BRITISH DOCK STRIKE RATIFIED". The New York Times. 22 July 1984. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
38. Apple Jr., R.W. (19 September 1984). "NATIONAL DOCK STRIKE ENDS IN BRITAIN". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
39. "Dock Strike (Hansard, 16 July 1984)".
40. "AROUND THE WORLD; Greek Workers End Strike at U.S. Bases". The New York Times. 1 August 1984. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
41. Anastasi, Paul (24 July 1984). "U.S. BASE IN ATHENS BESIEGED". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
42. "THE REGION; Hospital Strike Ends in Mt. Vernon". The New York Times. 18 September 1984. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
43. Bonilla, Oswaldo (23 August 1984). "Beer workers on fourth day of strike". UPI. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
44. Kinzer, Stephen (27 August 1984). "FIRST NICARAGUAN STRIKE SINCE '79 IS OVER". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
45. "DISNEYLAND WORKERS RETURN AS STRIKE ENDS". The New York Times. 18 October 1984. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
46. San Roman, Gabriel (23 March 2018). "How the Disneyland Strike of 1984 Changed the Magic Kingdom Forever". OC Weekly. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
47. "Inmates on West Bank Give Up Hunger Strike". The New York Times. 5 October 1984. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
48. Abu Sneineh, Mustafa (1 May 2019). "Beds, kettles and books: How hunger strikes changed the cells of Palestinian prisoners". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
49. "Arab General Strike in East Jerusalem". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 5 October 1984. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
50. "Restaurant strike over". UPI. 8 December 1984. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
51. Remes, Jacob (9 April 2019). "Labor Organizing in Higher Ed: Lessons from the 1984-85 Yale Strike". History News Network. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
52. "POLICE ARREST 430 AT YALE PROTEST IN SUPPORT OF STRIKING EMPLOYEES". The New York Times. 27 October 1984. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
53. Ladd-Taylor, Molly (1985). "Women Workers and the Yale Strike". Feminist Studies. 11 (3): 465–490. doi:10.2307/3180113. hdl:2027/spo.0499697.0011.303. JSTOR 3180113.
54. Goldenberg, Suzanne (27 October 1984). "General Motors of Canada and the United Auto Workers..." UPI. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
55. Benedict, Daniel (1985). "The 1984 GM Agreement in Canada: Significance and Consequences". Relations Industrielles / Industrial Relations. 40 (1): 27–47. doi:10.7202/050108ar. JSTOR 23072209.
56. "Louisville Orchestra Votes to End Strike". The New York Times. 18 December 1984. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
57. "Strike at Bookbinders Ends". The New York Times. 28 December 1984. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
58. "Air New Zealand Strike Ends". The New York Times. 25 December 1984. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
59. Nusser, Nancy (7 October 1984). "Nicaraguan workers angry over unions giving up right to strike". UPI. Retrieved 9 October 2024.