Legal Definitions - strike fund

A strike fund is a dedicated pool of financial resources maintained by a labor union to provide support and financial assistance to its members who are participating in a lawful strike. The primary purpose of this fund is to help striking workers cover essential living expenses, such as housing, food, and utilities, during periods when they are not receiving their regular wages from their employer.

• Imagine a scenario where the union representing city bus drivers is unable to reach a new contract agreement with the transit authority. If the drivers vote to go on strike, the union's strike fund would begin distributing weekly payments to its members. These payments would help the striking drivers pay their rent, buy groceries for their families, and cover other necessary bills while they are off the job and not earning their usual income. This directly illustrates how the fund provides financial support for subsistence during a work stoppage.

• Consider a large manufacturing plant where workers, represented by their union, decide to strike over unsafe working conditions. During the strike, the workers are not paid by the company. The union's strike fund would then be activated to provide financial aid to these members. For instance, it might cover their health insurance premiums or offer a stipend to ensure their families can still access medical care and maintain their household, demonstrating its role in mitigating financial hardship during a strike.

• Suppose a union representing nurses at several hospitals calls for a strike to demand better staffing levels and improved patient care. While the nurses are on the picket line, their regular salaries are suspended. The union's strike fund would step in to offer financial assistance, perhaps by providing a portion of their lost wages or covering specific expenses like childcare costs, enabling the nurses to continue their strike without facing immediate and severe financial distress. This shows the fund's function in sustaining members through a prolonged labor dispute.