Published on Tony Lovasco: Death to Karl Marx!™ (http://www.tonylovasco.com)
Cost of the Picket Line Calculator

I've had many debates with pro-union friends who claim that strikes are the only way for oppressed workers to demand better wages, treatment, and benefits. While there may be legitimate reasons to go on strike, simply doing so to get higher wages generally isn't one of them. The fact is, it takes a great deal of time to simply earn back the money you lost while on strike.

Of course, when I make this argument to my pro-union comrades (choice of wording intentional), they simply refuse to believe me. So I decided to use mathematics to prove my point. Try out my handy Strike Calculator below to find out how long you'll have to work just to break even after going on strike.
 
 

The Cost of the Picket Line Calculator:

Enter your current hourly income in dollars:
$ per hour

Enter the number of days you'll be on strike:
days

Enter the raise you'll get per hour if the strike is successful: $ extra per hour

 

Click this button to calculate:

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Amount of money you lose by not getting paid while on strike:
$

Number of days you'll need to work at the new hourly rate just to make up your lost wages:
Work Days ( Years )

 

 

Assumptions: 8 hour work days, 5 day work weeks, 52 full work weeks in the year (meaning 260 work days per year)

 

 

Source URL: http://www.tonylovasco.com/politics/employment/cost_picket_line_calculator