The services performed by City employees included herein are essential to the public health, safety and welfare. The Union and the City, therefore, agree there shall be no strikes, no interruption of the work for any cause whatsoever, nor any work slowdown or other interference with the delivery of services to the public. For the purpose of this agreement, a “strike” means, concerted action in failing to report to duty; willful absence from one's position; stoppage of work; slowdown; or abstinence in whole or in part from the full, faithful, and proper performance of the duties of employment for the purpose of inducing, influencing, or coercing a change in wages, hours, terms and other conditions of employment. Stoppage of work by employees in good faith because of dangerous or unhealthful working conditions at the place of employment which are abnormal to the place of employment shall not be deemed a strike.
Employees may be required to go through picket lines where an emergency requires them to do so to protect the public health, safety and welfare; but only after proper arrangements have been made so as not to cause the employee(s) to be considered strikebreakers and to properly protect them from any possible bodily harm.