Strike!!
What happens to picketing employees when unions go on strike? I was reading an article on the Verizon strike where an average of 36K employees originally walked off the job in protest. I understand and agree with their right to demand better wages, benefits, or working conditions but at what risk. Can those employees lose their jobs for standing with the union or are there jobs guaranteed when an agreement is met?
Ultimately, the company can decide who to bring back after an agreement is reached. Most often, all 'strikers' are allowed back, but the company can deny whoever they want.
All union employees are protected by the Collective Bargaining Contract and it is not in the best interest for a company not to hire them back because they have already invested to much money per employee to have them go thru training and learn what the need to do to their job. So usually the company and bargaining committee reach an agreement and everything goes back to normal.
A big service company will almost immediately hire temp workers to fill in jobs but striking employee's can demand immediate reinstatement when the strike ends. It's still a pretty big risk though.
after strike is over they go back to work like normal