sympathy strike

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.

sympathy strike

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of sympathy strike¹

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

Since Tesla still refused to negotiate with the union, laborers across the Nordic countries launched sympathy strikes against Tesla.

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It resulted in a three-month strike by the retail employees union that snowballed into an all-out boycott as other Swedish unions joined in sympathy strikes.

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Soon after, sympathy strikes popped up around the country.

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After Tesla refused to sign a collective bargaining agreement with 125 of its unionized Swedish mechanics, nearly the entire region has launched sympathy strikes, refusing to do business with the company.

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It would mark another expansion of sympathy strikes in the region.

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