sympathy strike

noun

: a strike in which the strikers have no direct grievance against their own employer but attempt to support or aid usually another group of workers on strike

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Nonetheless, the maritime strike escalated into an enormous citywide sympathy strike, shutting down San Francisco for several days. Jim Millercommunity Voices Contributor, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 May 2022 If the the strike had gone forward and continued to Thursday, when thousands of additional workers planned to join in a 24-hour sympathy strike, more than half of its total workforce would have been out on strike. Sam Dean, Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2021 If the the strike had gone forward and continued to Thursday, when thousands of additional workers planned to join in a 24-hour sympathy strike, more than half of its total workforce would have been out on strike. oregonlive, 13 Nov. 2021 The strike led to a one-day sympathy strike by the Nordic country’s transport sector, including Finnair, which had to cancel almost 300 flights. BostonGlobe.com, 4 Dec. 2019 Two other unions have approved sympathy strikes on Tuesday and Wednesday. Teresa Watanabe, latimes.com, 7 May 2018 The walkout is expected to widen Tuesday, when two other unions will join sympathy strikes. Joy Resmovits, latimes.com, 8 May 2018 The California Nurses Association and the University Professional and Technical Employees unions staged sympathy strikes Tuesday and Wednesday. Paul Sisson, sandiegouniontribune.com, 10 May 2018 By Tuesday, two more unions joined in sympathy strikes. Joy Resmovits, latimes.com, 9 May 2018 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sympathy strike.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sympathy strike was in 1912

Dictionary Entries Near sympathy strike

Cite this Entry

“Sympathy strike.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sympathy%20strike. Accessed 29 Mar. 2023.

Legal Definition

sympathy strike

see strike

More from Merriam-Webster on sympathy strike

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