sit-down strike

noun

1. a strike during which workers occupy their place of employment and refuse to work or allow others to work until the strike is settled.

sit-down strike

noun

1. a strike in which workers refuse to leave their place of employment until a settlement is reached

Word History and Origins

Origin of sit-down strike¹

An Americanism dating back to 1930–35

Example Sentences

Fury over the injustice of this led Attica’s men to launch a sit-down strike for better wages in July 1970, and the issue stayed with them.

From Time

Congress had passed the Wagner Act in 1935, providing a framework for collective bargaining and boosting the power of labor, as demonstrated by sit-down strikes among the clerks at Woolworth stores.

From Washington Post

One key moment was a sit-down strike at a crucial General Motors facility in Flint, MI.

From The Daily Beast