Will Your Workers Walk Out on May 1? Employers’ Guide to Your Rights and Responsibilities During Protest Activity
A coalition of activist and labor groups is calling for a nationwide “no work, no school, no shopping” action on May 1 (International Workers’ Day) framed by some organizers as a general strike. Whether it reaches that scale remains to be seen. What employers need to know right now, however, is that you have certain rights and responsibilities when it comes to potential protest-related work stoppages, and these obligations turn on some nuances that you should be familiar with. Here is what you should know before May Day arrives, whether or not your workplace is unionized. What is Actually Being Planned? The “May Day Strong” coalition is urging workers, students, and community members to stay home from work, avoid school, and boycott shopping on May 1. Organizers are explicitly framing the action as a response to the current administration’s policies. Tactically, the call ranges from full-day walkouts at places of employment to symbolic absences and consumer boyc...