We took care of our parents, sent our children to college, lived through strikes, layoffs, recessions.

As the practice has spread, unions have fought back, with mixed success, mostly at the bargaining table and rarely through strikes.

My hon. Friend is certainly right about the number of days lost through strikes.

Last year, hours lost through private-sector strikes were the fewest ever in postwar France.

However, due to the labour shortage, workers were able to obtain higher wages through regular strikes.

The Iranian Revolution had been ongoing since 1977 through strikes and demonstrations.

But can the giant that built its war chest through pre-emptive strikes do as well playing catch-up?

Days lost through strikes fell from more than 29 million in 1979 to under a million in the year to October 1991.

This has not, however, prevented women from trying to make their voices heard through strikes and peaceful protests.

"Or they may want to make their voices heard through strikes and industrial disruption."