Timeline of strikes in 1981

In 1981, a number of labour strikes, labour disputes, and other industrial actions occurred.

Background

A labor strike is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. It is usually a response to employee grievances, such as low pay or poor working conditions. Strikes can also occur to demonstrate solidarity with workers in other workplaces or pressure governments to change policies.

1980-81 Bangalore public sector strike
1980-81 West Bank teachers strike, by Israeli-employed Palestinian teachers in the West Bank demanding pay raises to match their salaries with the salaries of teachers in Israel.

1981 Bermuda general strike, the first general strike in Bermudan history.
1981 Danish printers' strike, 11-week strike in the printing industry in Denmark.
1981 Dannon Yogurt strike, 5-week strike by Danone workers in New York, represented by the Milk Drivers and Dairy Employees.
1981 Wagner College strike, 20-day strike by faculty at Wagner College.
1981 Writers Guild of America strike

1981 Birzeit University strike, strike by students at Birzeit University in the West Bank in protest against Israeli forces' harassment of students.
1981 Canada Post strike, 42-day strike by Canada Post workers represented by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers demanding the right to paid maternity leave.
1981 Major League Baseball strike
1981 Schlitz strike

1981 British Columbian lumber strike, by forestry workers in British Columbia, Canada, represented by the International Woodworkers of America; the first province-wide forestry strike since 1959.
Cape Breton coal strike of 1981
1981 Ford Brazil strike
1981 Georgia Power strike, by Georgia Power staff in the United States, represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
1981 Minnesota public sector strike, 22-day strike.
1981 Polish hunger demonstrations

1981 Hawaii tugboat strike
1981 Philadelphia teachers' strike
1981 Swingline strike, month-long strike by Swingline workers in the United States.

1981 El Al strike, 12-day strike by El Al staff in Israel.
1981 Bolivian tin miners' strike
1981 British Leyland strike, month-long strike by British Leyland workers in the United Kingdom over proposals to reduce the amount of break times workers received.
1981 Massachusetts bus strike, 42-day strike by transit workers in Massachusetts, represented by the Amalgamated Transit Union.