Purpose
General strikes have been done in order to seek "democracy, political representation and the provision of basic education and healthcare". In Europe, General Strikes were very common in the 19th and early 20th century.
In Portugal, a general strike has been called by the federation of public labor unions to avert austerity measures.
In Honduras, a general strike has been called by Union workers, farmers and other organizations demanding better education, an increase in the minimum wage and against fuel price hikes.
In Yemen, a general strike has been called by protesters to protest the presidency of that country.
In Algeria, public sector workers have mounted a general strike for higher wages and improved working conditions.
In February, 1947, General Douglas MacArthur, as Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers in Japan, banned a planned general strike of 2,400,000 government workers, stating that "so deadly a social weapon" as the general strike should not be used in the impoverished and emaciated condition of Japan so soon after World War II. Japan's labour leaders complied with his ban.
Read more about this topic: General Strike
Famous quotes containing the word purpose:
“During the cattle drives, Texas cowboy music came into national significance. Its practical purpose is well known—it was used primarily to keep the herds quiet at night, for often a ballad sung loudly and continuously enough might prevent a stampede. However, the cowboy also sang because he liked to sing.... In this music of the range and trail is “the grayness of the prairies, the mournful minor note of a Texas norther, and a rhythm that fits the gait of the cowboy’s pony.””
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“... the word “education” has an evil sound in politics; there is a pretense of education,
when the real purpose is coercion without the use of force.”
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“For the purpose of knowledge, one must know how to use that inner current that draws us to a thing, and then the one that, after a time, draws us away from it.”
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