PSA on Strikes:
Workers often organize strikes differently. Always check what the organizing workers actually want before declaring a boycott.
Sometimes, it’s more beneficial to the striking workers to show up as a customer than it is to stay home: “Don’t cross the picket line” originally referred to scab labor, and sometimes still does.
Example: retail workers at high-end stores striking for more fair breaks and to stop intentional understaffing might benefit more from a rush of customers who can’t be served because the staff is striking than from an empty store. (In a case like that, btw, you’d want to be obnoxiously difficult to serve and take up as much time as possible, for as little money as possible, from a scab or manager who’s filling in.) So they might ask specifically that folks not boycott.
“Don’t cross the picket line” in such an instance refers to scab labor (and sometimes suppliers), not always customers. (I know at least one Amazon warehouse strike a few years ago that explicitly asked people not to boycott, and were ignored; a strike I participated in years ago partially succeeded because the teamsters local refused to cross the picket line to supply the company.)
OTOH, some workers want you to boycott the service. If that’s the request, absolutely do it - places like groceries and restaurants are more likely to do this IME.
So check for statements of the organizers. And vocal, visual, public support is always called for - strikes always need positive PR.
Some good points I hadn’t considered!
