Squid on Strike

"Squid on Strike" is a SpongeBob SquarePants episode from Season 2. In this episode, Squidward and SpongeBob go on strike.

Plot
After finding profits to be slightly lower than usual at the Krusty Krab, Mr. Krabs decides to start billing his employees for doing the most normal things including talking, chewing, breathing, lollygagging, and even existing. Squidward finds this to be outrageously unfair, and he convinces SpongeBob that they should go on strike. SpongeBob, initially not knowing what it means to go on strike, is devastated when he is fired. Squidward, however, assures him that he will have his job back "and more."

Squidward starts them off by making SpongeBob throw his hat on the ground, but he couldn't do it since he refuses to let go of his own hat, making Squidward get a ticket for littering from the police. Then he makes a sign stating "Krusty Krab Unfair," but SpongeBob writes his as "Krusty Krab Funfair," making the restaurant more popular. Squidward then has SpongeBob memorize derogatory slogans about Mr. Krabs and the restaurant, though their meaning flies over SpongeBob's head. He draws the attention of an eager young teenager who thinks of SpongeBob as a living legend. Rather than joining him in the strike, however, he heads inside the restaurant to take SpongeBob's job.

Squidward then attempts to give a speech to the people of Bikini Bottom, who grow so excited by his words that they build up an appetite and rush over him to eat at the Krusty Krab. Mr. Krabs steps outside to taunt him about how beneficial the strike has been for his bottom line. Standing up for Squidward, SpongeBob turns against Mr. Krabs and tells him that they will stay on strike forever until his unfair pay deduction policy is abolished. The word "forever" accidentally strikes a nerve with Squidward, who grows deeply unsettled at the thought of being on a never-ending strike with SpongeBob.

Unable to sleep with this thought, Squidward runs to the door to beg Mr. Krabs for his job back. Opening it, he is surprised to find Mr. Krabs, who begs him and SpongeBob to return, saying that he cannot stand the teenagers he hired as replacements as they are ruining the place and will not leave him alone. As they walk to the Krusty Krab together, Squidward relishes how the tables have turned and begun discussing the terms of their return with Mr. Krabs.

Meanwhile, SpongeBob has taken the words of Squidward's speech to heart and spends the night literally dismantling the establishment that is the Krusty Krab. Squidward and Mr. Krabs soon arrive, having come to an agreement. Squidward is horrified to see the Krusty Krab in shambles, while SpongeBob stands proudly among the wreckage. When Mr. Krabs discovers his restaurant is completely destroyed, he literally falls to pieces and remarks that in order to pay for the damages, Squidward and SpongeBob will work for him forever. SpongeBob jumps in joy while realizing the true meaning of "forever," while Squidward suddenly once more takes in the full meaning of it.

One eternity later, SpongeBob and Squidward are shown as nothing but a skeleton crew, still working at the Krusty Krab, as the episode ends.