Labor strikes are central tools for unions, but existing research has focused on economic outcomes rather than their political effects. This study examines how large-scale teacher strikes—a well-organized public sector action—influence parents' attitudes about labor movements more broadly.
- Context: Six states experienced significant 2018 teacher walkouts.
- Methods: An original survey among affected parents, comparing those whose children were in school during the strike versus those who were out of school at the time.
Parents exposed to strikes firsthand showed increased support for both teachers and labor action in general. This effect demonstrates that unions can effectively mobilize public backing through direct confrontation—even when workers are inconvenienced—and may inspire broader engagement with labor movements outside traditional union structures, highlighting a powerful political dimension of strikes.
