What is the libertarian justification for opposing strikes?

[jes06c]

My wife participated in the teacher's strike in Arizona today. In the days leading up to this strike, I've been hearing a lot of self-proclaimed libertarians on TV, radio, Facebook, and in real life opposing not just this particular strike, but ANY strike, and defending Arizona for being a right to work state. That got me wondering, what exactly is the libertarian justification for this? Libertarians claim to be for as small as government as possible, and for promoting as much personal freedom as possible. So why are all these libertarians so indifferent to the right of workers to withhold labor, or the right of workers to try to renegotiate for better pay and working conditions?

[marylandblue]

1. They aren't against the right to strike

They just think if you go on strike, you should be immediately replaced by a scab.

[jes06c]

4. I didn't think of that

My suspicion was that a lot of these libertarians are closeted Republicans who think that it's hipper to identify as libertarian, but this makes sense too

[slumcamper]

2. Same as the Republican justification.

A good share of self-proclaimed "Libertarians" have adopted the label because REPUBLICAN is increasingly disgusting and toxic.

A piss poor attempt to put lipstick on the pig they are, IMHO.

[TheSmarterDog]

3. Because they're emotionally stunted idiots.

[hueymahl]

5. True libertarians dont oppose strikes

They oppose laws that protect strikers and organized labor

[misanthrope]

6. Bingo

They're on the side of capital.

[Wounded Bear]

7. Libertarians do not like unions...

In their minds, private property rights are paramount, and workers have no right to oppose management/ownership beyond quitting and getting a different job or suing for their rights-restricted as they may be in that world. They think each worker must "negotiate" with the boss for their individual pay scale and should not be allowed to band together to do so.

Ultimately they favor individuality, and if that means one individual achieves monopoly status, so be it. Certainly, Libertarians do not believe the government should intervene in worker/owner relationships at all. Owners do what they like, workers should abey, quit, or try to sue-but without any support beyond their own individual means. No group efforts allowed.

[hueymahl]

10. They dont oppose group action Or unions at all

They oppose laws protecting group action or unions. Virtually every “libertarian” you see on tv is really just a conservative who has no idea what he or she is talking about when it comes to libertarian ideology. If you are talking about that ilk, you are correct.

I know this sounds a bit pedantic, but I think it is important to know your enemy.

[RockRaven]

8. They live in a delusion of rugged individualism

and collective bargaining runs counter to that.

Also, the result of unions effectively striking is often higher wages/more benefits, and when the unions are public employees that would mean more government spending, which they think means higher taxes, which they hate axiomatically.

[Yavin4]

9. Libertarians cannot name one civilization in the history of mankind that practiced their ideology

successfully. In fact, the vast majority of civilizations throughout the history of mankind practiced some sort of communal organization to one degree or another.

[RhodeIslandOne]

11. They don't beleive in government, so why would they think public employees can strike?

Libertarians think if you strike, you should just quit and find another job and not trouble the nice person good enough to give you a job.

[safeinOhio]

12. They do not like Democracy.