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

She staged a sit-down strike at a segregated roller skating rink in Cambridge, Mass., when she was 14, and she later broke ground as a Black woman in education, employment and housing.

From New York Times

When the elevator breaks down yet again and Isaac can’t get to an exam on the upper floor, the whole school stages a sit-down strike in his support.

From Los Angeles Times

There was actually a direct connection to the famous sit-down strike in Flint, Michigan, in 1936.

From Salon

Roosevelt refused to take a strong stand against the "sit-down strike," a controversial labor tactic that posed a direct challenge to major industrial employers.

From Salon

Kildee’s congressional district includes the city of Flint, where a sit-down strike by General Motors workers in 1936-1937 brought about one of the biggest victories for labor unions in America’s history.

From Seattle Times