Revolutionary insurrection after a strike -- it's a shambles (8)
I believe the answer is:
abattoir
'a shambles' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'revolutionary insurrection after a strike' is the wordplay.
'revolutionary' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'insurrection' becomes 'riot' (I've seen this before).
'after' says to put letters next to each other.
'strike' becomes 'bat'.
'riot' in reverse letter order is 'toir'.
'a'+'bat'='abat'
'toir' after 'abat' is 'ABATTOIR'.
'it's' is the link.
(Other definitions for abattoir that I've seen before include "Damage (metal) by chemical action" , "I tar boat (anag)" , "scene of slaughter" , "Building used for butchery" , "Slaughterhouse for animals" .)