constitutional strike: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical / Formal
Quick answer
What does “constitutional strike” mean?
A planned cessation of work by employees as part of an official, recognized industrial action.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A planned cessation of work by employees as part of an official, recognized industrial action.
A strike that is legally authorized by a trade union following a proper ballot and adherence to legal procedures, making it a protected form of industrial action under employment law, as opposed to an unofficial or wildcat strike.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term 'constitutional strike' is more common in UK and Commonwealth labour law contexts. In US contexts, the functionally equivalent term is typically 'official strike' or 'certified strike', especially when referring to a strike authorized by a union following procedures mandated by the National Labor Relations Act.
Connotations
In the UK, it connotes a formal, procedurally correct action. In the US, 'official strike' carries the same connotation, but 'constitutional strike' might sound like a legalistic Britishism.
Frequency
Very low in general American English; moderate in specific British/Commonwealth industrial relations discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “constitutional strike” in a Sentence
The union [verb: called/voted for/authorised] a constitutional strike.A constitutional strike was [verb: held/authorised/endorsed] over the issue of X.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “constitutional strike” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The action was deemed a constitutional strike by the employment tribunal.
- They followed the full constitutional strike procedure.
American English
- The union's action met the criteria for a constitutional strike.
- This was a rare example of a constitutional strike in the private sector.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in HR communications and risk assessments regarding labour disputes.
Academic
Used in papers on industrial relations, labour economics, and employment law.
Everyday
Very rare; would typically be simplified to 'official strike' or just 'strike' in news reports.
Technical
Core term in labour law and trade union governance, specifying action taken in accordance with a union's constitution and statutory law.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “constitutional strike”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “constitutional strike”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “constitutional strike”
- Using 'constitutional' to mean 'related to health or walking' (confusion with 'constitutional' as a walk).
- Confusing it with a 'general strike'. A constitutional strike is defined by its procedure, a general strike by its scale.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Essentially, yes. 'Constitutional strike' is the term often used in British/Commonwealth labour law, emphasizing action taken under a union's constitution. 'Official strike' is a more general synonym.
Typically, no. In many jurisdictions, participants in a properly conducted constitutional strike are protected from dismissal, whereas those in unofficial strikes may not be.
The most common opposite is an 'unofficial strike' or 'wildcat strike', which is called without following the formal union authorization process.
No. It only guarantees the action is legally sanctioned. The outcome depends on the negotiations between the union and the employer.
A planned cessation of work by employees as part of an official, recognized industrial action.
Constitutional strike is usually technical / formal in register.
Constitutional strike: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɒnstɪˈtjuːʃ(ə)nəl ˈstraɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɑːnstɪˈtuːʃənəl ˈstraɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a country's CONSTITUTION—it's the official rulebook. A CONSTITUTIONAL strike is one that follows the union's official rulebook and the law.
Conceptual Metaphor
INDUSTRIAL ACTION IS A FORMAL PROCEDURE (where following the correct 'constitution' legitimizes the action).
Practice
Quiz
What is the key distinguishing feature of a constitutional strike?