‘Striketober’ is showing workers’ rising power – but will it lead to lasting change?

A post-pandemic labor shortage has given workers leverage but experts doubt it will lead to a sustained rise in union membership

US labor unions have been on the defensive for decades but this October there has been a surprising burst of worker militancy and strikes as workers have gone on the offensive to demand more. Experts are predicting more actions to come but whether Striketober" can lead to permanent change remains an open question.

The scale of industrial action is truly remarkable. Ten thousand John Deere workers have gone on strike, 1,400 Kellogg workers have walked out, as well as a walkout threatened by more than 30,000 Kaiser Permanente workers, all inflamed by a profound disconnect between labor and management.