work stoppage
Employees refuse tasks
A work stoppage is a halt in labor, whether from a strike, lockout, or other disruption.
The term is neutral—it doesn't assign blame to workers or management: The work stoppage lasted three weeks before negotiations resumed.
News reports often prefer it to "strike" when the cause or fault is unclear or disputed.
Protest by leaving
- picketPointed fence stake
- picketingOrganized protest outside workplace
- picket signsHandheld protest displays
- wildcat strikeUnauthorized work stoppage
sympathy strike · overtime ban · sit-down strike · general strike · rolling strike · hunger strike · solidarity · industrial action
Public display of opinion
- rallyGathering for a cause
- marchRhythmic group walk
- sit-inProtest by remaining seated
- boycottOrganized economic protest
civil disobedience · placards · chanting · banner · occupation · vigil · resistance · activism
Joint worker-employer talks
- bargainingNegotiating mutually acceptable terms
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
- arbitrationNon-court binding dispute resolution
- conciliationResolving disputes through dialogue
impasse · deadlock · compromise · talks · dialogue · settlement · contract dispute · demands
Formal claim of unfairness
- conflictOpposition between parties
- disagreementAbsence of shared opinion
- contentionAssertion or rivalry
- discordLack of agreement
dissension · controversy · labor dispute · contract dispute · wage dispute · union dispute
One who employs others
- managementOrganizing and directing resources
- shutdownCessation of operations
- exclusionBeing barred from participation
- scabsDried wound coverings
injunction · blacklist · coercion · contract · plant closure · facility closure · economic pressure · union busting
walkout
Protest by leaving
- picketPointed fence stake
- picketingOrganized protest outside workplace
- picket signsHandheld protest displays
wildcat strike · sympathy strike · overtime ban · sit-down strike · general strike · rolling strike · hunger strike · solidarity · industrial action · collective action
demonstration
Public display of opinion
boycott · civil disobedience · placards · chanting · banner · occupation · vigil · resistance · activism · petition
collective bargaining
Joint worker-employer talks
- bargainingNegotiating mutually acceptable terms
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
- arbitrationNon-court binding dispute resolution
conciliation · impasse · deadlock · compromise · talks · dialogue · settlement · contract dispute · demands · concession
grievance
Formal claim of unfairness
- conflictOpposition between parties
- disagreementAbsence of shared opinion
- contentionAssertion or rivalry
discord · dissension · controversy · labor dispute · contract dispute · wage dispute · union dispute
employer
One who employs others
- managementOrganizing and directing resources
- shutdownCessation of operations
- exclusionBeing barred from participation
scabs · injunction · blacklist · coercion · contract · plant closure · facility closure · economic pressure · union busting · hiring freeze
- protestdemonstration, walkout, picket, protest march, sit-in
- resistanceresistance, defiance, resistance fighters, civil resistance, resist
- collective actionunite, join forces, team up, mobilization, movement
- economic protestlabor strike, general strike, rent strike, consumer boycott, picket
- labor actionslabor strike, strike, strike vote, walkout, picket
- labor disputesstrikes, strike, labor strike, walkout, walkouts
work stoppagebusiness as usual
Continuation of normal routine
return to work · labor peace · working conditions · back to work
work, stop, worker, working, works, stopped, workers, worked, stopping