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

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

Some of the public hospital system's estimated 3,400 pharmacists, social workers, psychologists, occupational therapists and lab scientists also walked out on Tuesday in a one-day sympathy strike at the five medical centers.

From Reuters • May 21, 2013

Today, my stomach was very unhappy, and my head was on sympathy strike.

From The Risk Profession by Ivie, Larry