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
Examples of sympathy strike in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In March 2023, UTLA staged a sympathy strike, joining the three-day walkout of Local 99 of Service Employees International Union.
—
Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
The California Nurses Association said more than 23,000 of its members will participate in a one-day sympathy strike starting Wednesday at 6 a.m. and ending Thursday at 6 a.m.
—Catherine Ho, San Francisco Chronicle, 16 Mar. 2026
Classified employees — or non-teaching staff who support school operations such instructional aids, paraprofessionals, custodians, food service workers and bus drivers — will not hold a collective sympathy strike, although individual members are legally allowed to do so.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 3 Mar. 2026
The United Administrators of San Francisco, which represents 253 principals, assistant principals, program administrators, and supervisors across the district, said its members voted to authorize the sympathy strike.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
What To Know The nurse's union planned to engage in a sympathy strike on November 17 and 18 alongside other unions within the university system.
—Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Nov. 2025
By July, sympathy strikes were underway in 23 states.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2025
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Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
The California Nurses Association said more than 23,000 of its members will participate in a one-day sympathy strike starting Wednesday at 6 a.m. and ending Thursday at 6 a.m.
—Catherine Ho, San Francisco Chronicle, 16 Mar. 2026
Classified employees — or non-teaching staff who support school operations such instructional aids, paraprofessionals, custodians, food service workers and bus drivers — will not hold a collective sympathy strike, although individual members are legally allowed to do so.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 3 Mar. 2026
The United Administrators of San Francisco, which represents 253 principals, assistant principals, program administrators, and supervisors across the district, said its members voted to authorize the sympathy strike.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
What To Know The nurse's union planned to engage in a sympathy strike on November 17 and 18 alongside other unions within the university system.
—Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Nov. 2025
By July, sympathy strikes were underway in 23 states.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sympathy strike.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sympathy%20strike. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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