wildcat strike

American  

noun

1. a labor strike that has not been called or sanctioned by the officials of the union.

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wildcat strike British  

noun

1. a strike begun by workers spontaneously or without union approval

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wildcat strike Cultural  

1. A strike called in violation of an existing contract between labor and management.

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Etymology

Origin of wildcat strike

An Americanism dating back to 1940–45

Example Sentences

The dissent this week is reminding some labor observers of a wildcat strike that occurred a few years ago at U.C.

From New York Times • Dec. 22, 2022

I don’t think they met secretly with the wildcatters, and they may have had some differences, but I don’t think that the official union was too unhappy with the membership for that wildcat strike.

From Slate • Oct. 28, 2019

Starting in New York, the strike soon spread across the country, as 200,000 workers brought mail delivery and much interstate commerce to a halt in the largest wildcat strike in U.S. history.

From Washington Post • Aug. 31, 2018

The wildcat strike was carried out by MyFerryLink workers who are concerned about job losses.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 23, 2015

Pooky Suggs, who hadn’t been to church in twenty years, said this preacher had it right and gathered a group of men around him to announce a wildcat strike.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam