sympathy strike

American  

noun

1. a strike by a body of workers, not because of grievances against their own employer, but by way of endorsing and aiding another group of workers who are on strike or have been locked out.

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sympathy strike British  

noun

1. Also called: sympathetic strike.  a strike organized in support of another section of workers or a cause and not because of direct grievances

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Etymology

Origin of sympathy strike

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

This week, Danish labor unions announced their plans to launch a sympathy strike against Tesla if the electric vehicle company doesn’t sign a collective bargaining agreement with its 125 striking Swedish mechanics.

From Washington Times • Dec. 5, 2023

Union President Kim Cordova said the deal followed several days of negotiations and the possibility of a sympathy strike by stores in California and Seattle.

From Reuters • Feb. 1, 2022

The workers with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299 were expected to be joined by 24,000 other union members in a sympathy strike.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 23, 2018

According to CBS News, the striking workers from around 10 campuses are expected to number roughly 50,000, bolstered by a sympathy strike from professional and technical employees of the university system.

From Slate • May 7, 2018

He said it wasn't much of a sympathy strike, because nobody had any sympathy for him.

From Roy Blakeley's Camp on Wheels by Hastings, Howard L. (Howard Livingston)