industrial action
Organized labor stoppage
Industrial action refers to measures taken by workers to pressure employers during disputes—strikes, walkouts, work-to-rule campaigns, or slowdowns.
The term is more common in British than American English, where "labor action" or simply "strike" often appears instead.
The union threatened industrial action if negotiations failed.
Protest by leaving
- work stoppageOrganized cessation of labor
- wildcat strikeUnauthorized work stoppage
- general strikeCross-industry work refusal
- sympathy strikeWalkout supporting other workers
sit-down strike · go-slow · slowdown · overtime ban · sickout · blue flu · lockout · token strike
Public display of opinion
- picket lineProtesting workers' boundary
- picketingOrganized protest outside workplace
- placardNotice on a board
- bannerDisplayed strip with message
rally · march · leafletting · sit-in · occupation · vigil · chanting · megaphone
Joint worker-employer talks
- arbitrationNon-court binding dispute resolution
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
- conciliationResolving disputes through dialogue
- union demandsWorkers' negotiated conditions
wage negotiations · grievance procedure · labor dispute · trade union · labor union · shop steward · union representative · bargaining table
Worker-employer disagreement
- turmoilViolent disturbance or confusion
- discontentUnhappiness with circumstances
- grievanceFormal claim of unfairness
- agitationDisturbed, restless state
strife · confrontation · friction · ferment · disturbance · conflict · tension · upheaval
Wholeness through cohesion
- brotherhoodKinship among men
- sisterhoodBond among women
- workers' rightsLegal protections for employees
- labor rightsEmployees' legal workplace entitlements
comradeship · union solidarity · mutual support · coalition · alliance · rank and file · trade unionism · class consciousness
Official prohibition on trade
- sanctionsPunitive international restrictions
- banOfficial restriction on something
- blacklistRecord of prohibited entities
- divestmentDisposal of assets
moratorium · shunning · noncooperation · exclusion · consumer boycott · trade embargo · disinvestment · proscription
walkout
Protest by leaving
- work stoppageOrganized cessation of labor
- wildcat strikeUnauthorized work stoppage
- general strikeCross-industry work refusal
sympathy strike · sit-down strike · go-slow · slowdown · overtime ban · sickout · blue flu · lockout · token strike · downing tools
demonstration
Public display of opinion
- picket lineProtesting workers' boundary
- picketingOrganized protest outside workplace
- placardNotice on a board
banner · rally · march · leafletting · sit-in · occupation · vigil · chanting · megaphone · strikebreakers
collective bargaining
Joint worker-employer talks
- arbitrationNon-court binding dispute resolution
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
- conciliationResolving disputes through dialogue
union demands · wage negotiations · grievance procedure · labor dispute · trade union · labor union · shop steward · union representative · bargaining table · dispute resolution
labor dispute
Worker-employer disagreement
- turmoilViolent disturbance or confusion
- discontentUnhappiness with circumstances
- grievanceFormal claim of unfairness
agitation · strife · confrontation · friction · ferment · disturbance · conflict · tension · upheaval · disruption
unity
Wholeness through cohesion
- brotherhoodKinship among men
- sisterhoodBond among women
- workers' rightsLegal protections for employees
labor rights · comradeship · union solidarity · mutual support · coalition · alliance · rank and file · trade unionism · class consciousness · organized labor
embargo
Official prohibition on trade
- sanctionsPunitive international restrictions
- banOfficial restriction on something
- blacklistRecord of prohibited entities
divestment · moratorium · shunning · noncooperation · exclusion · consumer boycott · trade embargo · disinvestment · proscription · withdrawal
- protestdemonstration, walkout, picket, protest march, sit-in
- labor disputesstrikes, strike, labor strike, walkout, walkouts
- labor movementsgeneral strike, general strikes, labor strikes, picket lines, unionization
- labor relationslabor relations, labor disputes, collective agreement, union elections, bargaining
- labor strikeswalkouts, walkout, picket lines, coal strike, pickets
- labor unionsunion dues, trade union, union membership, labor union, union shops
action, industry, industrial, industrialist, industrialized, industrialize, industrialists, industrially, industrializing