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. a strike organized in support of another section of workers or a cause and not because of direct grievances Also calledsympathetic strike

Word History and Origins

Origin of sympathy strike¹

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

He was on a sympathy strike, that's what the man in the candy store told us.

From Project Gutenberg

He was on a sympathy strike on account of the steel strikers.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg