HONOLULU (KHON2) -- You may have noticed that a lot of workers are walking off the job right now. Experts say the timing is no coincidence. Get Hawaii's latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Nurses, hotel workers, and dock workers—it seems like everyone is going on strike lately. A local labor attorney says it's not because they want to, but because they have to. "The right to strike helps to balance the inequalities so that when we sit at the negotiating table with the employer, we can come up with an agreement that's fair to both sides," said Keani Alapa, labor attorney. "Well, the more we have that kind of displacement unrest," said Denise Eby Konan, UH Manoa College of Social Sciences dean and professor of economics, "it just creates a lot of uncertainty and unease." Experts say there are a couple of reasons for the timing of these strikes. First, businesses are starting to rebound from COVID. Kapiolani Medical Center nurses vote on tentative contract agreement "They're profiting, they're making a lot of money, and great for them; we're happy for them, but they didn't do it alone," said Alapa. "The workers got them there. They got the profit; they made the business successful. And it's not just the workers, it's all of us." Second, the presidential election is approaching. "Well, the timing is just really quite interesting because we're coming up to a national election, and, of course, positions on labor are a voting issue," said Konan. The victims of prolonged strikes are the public and the company's customers. For an island state, a prolonged strike by dockworkers thousands of miles away will be felt. "It may impact fuel prices; it may impact especially construction supplies," said Konan. "And, you know, the holiday season is coming right up." Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news "If both parties come with an open mind and look at the data and the circumstances with an open mind, most of these negotiations can be resolved, and an agreement can be reached," said Alapa.