While the opposition promoted the strike as an effort to defend the private sector and ensure its continuance, the bourgeoisie was using the strike as a public demonstration of class power.

[..]. locked workers out of their factories to forcibly shut down production, and some even offered to pay workers not to come to work.

[..]. With substantial financial support from the U.S. government, the strikers appeared poised to make good on their promise to shut down the country indefinitely.

— Cybernetic Revolutionaries by Eden Medina (Page 146)