Law Offices of Dan A. Atkerson

Can I Be Punished at Work or Fired for Going on Strike in Texas?

Mar 21, 2024 @ 10:25 AM — by Dan Atkerson
Tagged with: Workplace Retaliation

Workers go on strike for many reasons. Beyond the most obvious, of wanting increased pay, you and your colleagues may strike for better retirement benefits, healthcare coverage, and worker safety protections.

While going on strike can sometimes feel necessary, it can also feel intimidating. This is because some employers retaliate against workers by punishing them or even firing them outright for participating in a labor stoppage. In this detailed blog post, I will outline when retaliation is illegal and what legal options you have if you have suffered employer retaliation for joining a worker strike in Allen, Dallas, or another area of Texas.

 

Strikes Are Becoming More Common

According to the Economic Policy Institute, major strike activity rose by 280% last year, with almost half a million workers involved in significant work stoppages.

The National Labor Relations Act Protects Your Right to Strike

The National Labor Relations Act, also known as the Wagner Act, was established in 1935. For almost a century since, it has provided invaluable employee protections to America’s workforce. These are key reasons you are allowed to strike:

Economic Reasons

Your right to strike is legally protected if you are seeking:

Unfair Labor Practices

You are also permitted to strike if you are fighting back against unfair labor practices like:

There Are Many Types of Retaliation

If you have suffered any of the following as a result of your strike, reach out to me to discuss your case:

 

Accused of Strike Misconduct? I Can Review the Allegations

The National Labor Relations Act has an explicit carve-out stating that it does not protect workers accused of illegal and serious misconduct. Examples include:

Because these types of actions are not protected by the NLRA, employers may try to accuse strikers of misconduct to get away with retaliation scot-free.

I can draw upon my four decades in employment law to demonstrate that your strike behavior was lawful and you are deserving of all available legal protections.

No-Strike Clauses in Employment Contracts

Another tactic employers resort to to punish strikers is claiming that their unionized employees signed a collective bargaining agreement that included a no-strike clause. If you did sign such an agreement, your strike may have been illegal. I can evaluate the contract to see if such a clause exists.

There are also certain situations where a no-strike clause would be voided, allowing you to exercise full employee rights. For example, you may have legally been allowed to strike despite a no-strike clause if you were suffering from egregiously dangerous working conditions.

 

Keep in Mind: Texas Is a Right-to-Work State

I’ve spent most of this blog post discussing strikes. I would be remiss to not note Texas’ law regarding retaliation for union activity. Texas is a right-to-work state, meaning that you cannot be denied employment for membership in a union or labor organization, or for refusing to join a union or labor organization.

In addition to the above, the Lone Star State protects you from the following when it comes to union participation or non-participation:

The Location of Your Workplace Matters

Texas’ right-to-work laws do not apply if your work site is in a federal enclave. A federal enclave is a piece of land that was given by a state to the national government to control. Not all federal land is considered a federal enclave.

Sound confusing? I’m here to clear things up.

It’s possible that your employer is hiding behind false enclave status to limit your employee rights.

Public Employees In Texas Receive No Strike Rights

Unfortunately, the Texas Government Code makes clear that public employees do not have a right to strike. A public worker who strikes against the state loses:

You Have a Limited Time to File a Legal Claim

It is very important that you meet all legal deadlines for filing an employment lawsuit.

You have a time limit of just 180 days from when you suffered retaliation for striking to file a claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Failing to meet this deadline jeopardizes your ability to ever receive compensation. On the other hand, meeting your deadline allows you to utilize the full force of the law to seek compensation for:

 

What My Law Office Can Offer You

When choosing an employment lawyer, it is wise to select an attorney who has a track record of winning cases similar to yours. While every situation is unique, there are general legal principles that apply to virtually all workplace lawsuits.

I Have Won Many Retaliation Cases

I am proud to say that throughout my career representing clients in Allen, Dallas, Plano, Frisco, and surrounding Texas communities, I have won many five and six-figure cases. 

If you have been retaliated against, trust that I have the knowledge and track record to truly help you.

I Can Take on Companies of All Sizes

I have been winning employment law cases since 1984. Throughout my career, I’ve handled claims for many clients of Fortune 500 companies, proving that I’m unafraid to confidently stand up to large corporations.

Speak With a Proven Lawyer

Request Your Legal Consultation Today

I provide personalized service while working on a contingency basis, meaning you won’t have to pay for my services unless I win your case or unless I need to review contracts without the need for direct negotiation. Reach out to me to find out why workers in Allen, Dallas, Plano, Frisco, and beyond choose me to win complex employment law cases.

 


 

Dan A. Atkerson
Dan A. Atkerson has worked as a civil employment law attorney in DFW since 1984. He has extensive knowledge of state and federal labor statutes and is a member of both the State Bar of Texas and the Dallas Bar Association.

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