For Sasha Burik, the world just doesn’t work.

That’s why she’s a prominent advocate for General Strike, a decentralized movement that’s working to orchestrate a nation-wide strike.

“The world we live in doesn't function,” Burik said. “I don't believe that this is the only way to organize society. I get up every day and I go to work … and I don't get enough exercise, I don't see my loved ones, I don't get to do the things that I care about, and that's not good enough for me. I don't think anybody was put on Earth to work a nine to five.”

Burik longs for a society that functions to benefit the collective majority of people, but it feels like an impossible dream to grasp at times. She was drawn to General Strike’s clear people-driven plan to organize a strike in the U.S. The movement is waiting for enough people to get involved before launching, which makes its goals more attainable.

Getting involved is the easy part: visit General Strike’s website and virtually sign a strike card. In order for the strike to happen, the movement needs 11 million signatures –– or 3.5% of the U.S. population. That’s the percentage is what political scientist Erica Chenoweth found is needed to bring about change in nonviolent protests.

Although specific demands won’t be finalized until the movement reaches six million signatures, there are a few general causes listed on its website, such as climate action, racial justice, LGBTQ rights, affordable housing, gun safety, tax the rich and workers rights.

There are two phases to achieving the goals laid out in the movement. The first, which is happening right now, is all about communication. Before creating a plan of action, advocates want to get the word out about General Strike and understand what communities need the most. Burik said the movement is mostly spreading its message through online circles and is mobilizing local communities to organize to address present-day needs.

Once it reaches six million signatures, phase two will launch. It will include organizing town halls and virtual meetings with coalition members and grassroots activists to understand what demands to prioritize and how to execute them. 

In this phase, a finalized list of demands and proposals will be published in a manifesto, or a “call to action.” Then, work will go into preparing communities for the strike once 11 million signatures have been collected.

Eliza Blum helped create the General Strike website and strategizes how to best reach people through technology. She said she hopes the movement ignites a realization in people.

“It's important to me that people know the power that they have,” Blum said. 

Blum started to find her own power when she was a labor organizer with Fight for $15, a movement advocating for a $15 minimum wage. Blum worked with a McDonald’s worker who became partially paralyzed after improperly stacked boxes fell on her. When the company wouldn’t even give the worker her legally-obligated sick days, Blum and others organized the community and blocked the drive thru line during a lunch rush.

After that, Blum said the company “rolled out the red carpet” and paid for her medical bills.

Moments like these prove Blum’s belief that people hold more power than they think. Though over 300,000 strike cards have been signed –– far from the 11 million goal –– Blum said thousands are being submitted each day, and the people signing up seem committed to staying connected virtually and participating in locally-organized movements. 

Once someone signs a card, they’re encouraged to join the General Strike Discord to stay in touch with the movement. 

Although there’s much more work to do, Burik said she already feels its growing impact firsthand. 

“One of my yoga teachers, who is in her 50s, randomly texted me the website for the General Strike,” she said. “And I was like, ‘Oh I'm an organizer with them. How did you find out about that?’ And she said her mom sent it to her. It shows how it’s taken off recently.”

These are the experiences that bring Burik one step closer to living in a world she feels is functional for everyone.

To sign your strike card, visit generalstrikeus.com/strikecard