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Because we outlawed railroad strikes but didn't outlaw airline strikes.

Doesn't really prevent a strike though: it just makes it cost more. Here in Massachusetts it's illegal for public school teachers to strike, yet it has happened a couple times in the last year. In one case the teacher's union was fined: https://www.bostonherald.com/2023/02/08/woburn-teachers-turn...

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Railroad strikes are not outlawed. They are probably more regulated than other strikes in some ways, as there are certain things they can't strike for, and certain times they can't strike. But when they do strike, they have more leeway too, like they can solidarity strike which is illegal under NLRA.

The most recent attempt at a railroad strike was stopped by Congress imposing management's contract. But that's not a general prohibition against striking.

It's not a general prohibition but what message does it send? "You can't strike because we'll just force you back because we care more about your bosses and Americans getting their cheap shit from China for Christmas presents than we do about you" seems to be the message.

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