Depending on which side of the fence you are on, it appears tactics are changing. Do unions know that management is seeking concessions and would like them ordered back to work? This places the problem with the government of the day. Rather than bargaining for a solution, has this become an exercise in creating the environment that workers are forced back to work? The finger pointing starts when this happens.

Both sides claim the other is not flexible or will not bargain.

We have also seen rotating strikes occurring as well as partial withdrawal of union members. Is this going to be the new norm? In the past, unions typically walked off the job to back their demands. Today, is the union better served to only partially walk out? Does this really mean the membership is not keen to strikes but will agree to job action on limited bases? Some would suggest these limited job actions or rotating strikes are designed to force management to lockout striking employees. Your contingency plans will need to take into consideration the potential for rotating strikes or partial withdrawal of services. Your union may not elect to have all employees walk off the job as they have in the past.