sympathy strike
Definition
Noun: A work stoppage (strike) undertaken by one group of workers to express solidarity with and provide support for another group of workers who are already on strike against their own employer. The striking workers themselves do not necessarily have a direct grievance with their own employer at that time.
Usage
A "sympathy strike" is a collective action used to amplify the bargaining power of the originally striking workers by widening the economic impact. It is a form of secondary action. - The union called for a sympathy strike to support the factory workers who had been on the picket line for three weeks. - Participation in a sympathy strike is often a strategic decision made by a labor union.
Examples
- The dockworkers initiated a sympathy strike, halting all port operations to back the demands of the striking truck drivers.
- Although their own contract negotiations were ongoing, the teachers held a one-day sympathy strike with the cafeteria staff.
Advanced Usage / Notes
- Legal Status: The legality of sympathy strikes varies significantly by country and jurisdiction. In some places, like the United States under the Taft-Hartley Act, they are heavily restricted or prohibited.
- Strategic Purpose: The primary goal is to exert additional pressure on the employer of the originally striking workers by disrupting related or supply-chain operations.
Variants and Related Words
- Secondary Strike: A closely related term, sometimes used interchangeably with "sympathy strike," though it can have broader legal definitions.
- Solidarity Strike: Another common synonym emphasizing the aspect of worker solidarity.
- Wildcat Strike: A strike unauthorized by union leadership; a sympathy strike be a wildcat strike if not officially sanctioned.
Synonyms
- Solidarity strike
- Secondary strike
- Secondary action
Antonyms
- Primary strike (a strike arising from direct grievances with one's own employer)
Noun
-
a strike in support of other workers who are on strike; a strike not resulting from direct grievances against the workers' employer
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