By researching the many pies a single transnational firm can have its fingers in, unions can run extensive boycott campaigns, both to pressure management and to further galvanize community support. Unfortunately, unions often rely solely on boycotts, substituting corporate campaigns for a comprehensive strategy based on mobilizing members. Of utmost importance is for a union to analyze the lean production system at its work site. Halting production is the ultimate strength of workers over management. However, the use of scabs these days means that simply walking out won't necessarily stop production.
Unions are often wary of efforts to block production because of the threat of injunctions and fines.
But labor should take a lesson from its own history and countless other protest movements. Commitment to the righteous battle means a willingness to break unjust laws. Direct action is indispensable in upping our power against that of capital. Perhaps the best example of what it takes to win these days is found in the battle by the Mine Workers against Pittston Coal in the late 1980s. Bent on destroying the master coal agreement and crippling the union, Pittston was demanding huge concessions from active workers and benefit cuts from retirees.