Q. 1. What does the Catholic Church teach regarding going on strike?

A. 1. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it states:

"Recourse to a strike is morally legitimate when it cannot be avoided, or at least when it is necessary to obtain a proportionate benefit. It becomes morally unacceptable when accompanied by violence, or when objectives are included that are not directly linked to working conditions or are contrary to the common good." [C.C.C. # 2435]

Strikes are permitted when they are done peacefully, providing all other means of solving the differences have been exhausted. All forms of violence must be avoided. Reasons for valid strikes involve the worker's rights being violated, binding contracts being ignored or other valid reasons such as a worker's life being endangered.