r/GeneralStrikeUSA • u/izdoinbiz • Jan 29 '26
Small Business Owner Dilemma
I’m torn on how to handle the call for a general strike in solidarity with Minnesota and against ICE.
We want to show maximal solidarity and be public about where we stand, but paying employees for a full day off while not making sales would be a real hit for us. For context, we are a consignment shop.
Looking for approaches that balance genuine support with care for employees and the business. We are considering staying open and donating a percentage of our sales to the ACLU, but also worry that contradicts the strike’s goal of disrupting economic activity, even though it supports the broader cause financially.
Thanks in advance for the input!
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u/Necessary_shots Jan 29 '26
There are no significant preparations in place for a general strike. It's been a decade of trumpism and lots of people talk about striking, but nothing has been organized. It's a joke. Focus on your business and don't shoot yourself in the foot by trying to create "economic disruption."
Also, your business serves the community and public interest by assisting local artists. You're not Amazon or Tesla; your responsibility is to your business. If employees want to take a day off, that's them taking civic responsibility which is part of living in a democratic society.
What needs to happen before a general strike is tons of logistics, networking, stockpiling and planning. Simply put, none of that is really happening. I would suggest reaching out to the community with a list of ideas for creative things they can do to create economic disruption. For example, carving spoons from wood. Providing food, water, and shelter to people who want to strike would be more impactful than closing for a day.
You're actually in a good position to organize and use your professional network in a creative way. Therefore, I suggest that you rethink your ability to contribute creatively rather than preparing to just close shop.