sit-down strike: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic, Historical
Quick answer
What does “sit-down strike” mean?
A strike in which workers refuse to work, but also refuse to leave their workplace, physically occupying it as a form of protest.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A strike in which workers refuse to work, but also refuse to leave their workplace, physically occupying it as a form of protest.
A labour action characterized by the occupation of the workplace, aiming to halt production completely and gain leverage in negotiations by physically controlling the premises. Historically significant in labour movements.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is understood and used in both varieties, but it is more frequently associated with American labour history (e.g., the 1936-37 Flint sit-down strike). In the UK, 'occupation' or 'work-in' might be used in similar contexts, but 'sit-down strike' is the precise technical term.
Connotations
Both varieties associate it with historic, often militant, labour action. It may evoke images of past industrial conflicts rather than contemporary disputes.
Frequency
Low frequency in current everyday language. Its use is mostly confined to historical, political, or industrial relations contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “sit-down strike” in a Sentence
Workers staged a sit-down strike at the plant.The union called for a sit-down strike.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sit-down strike” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The sit-down strike at the Midlands factory lasted for three weeks, halting all production.
- Union leaders debated the legality of calling a sit-down strike under the new trade union laws.
American English
- The Flint sit-down strike of 1937 was a pivotal moment for the United Auto Workers union.
- Management obtained an injunction to end the illegal sit-down strike at the Pittsburgh plant.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in HR/Industrial Relations to discuss historical precedents or extreme negotiation scenarios.
Academic
Common in history, political science, and sociology papers analysing labour movements and industrial action.
Everyday
Rare; used when discussing historical events or significant labour disputes.
Technical
A specific term in labour law and industrial relations denoting a particular form of strike action.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sit-down strike”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sit-down strike”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sit-down strike”
- Using it to describe any strike where workers are stationary (e.g., a hunger strike). Confusing it with a 'slowdown' or 'work-to-rule'. Using it in present-day contexts where 'occupation' or 'work-in' might be more accurate.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. A 'sit-down strike' aims to halt production through occupation. A 'work-in' involves workers occupying a workplace but continuing to operate it, often to save it from closure.
In most modern jurisdictions, they are typically illegal as they involve trespass (unauthorized occupation of private property) and are often considered a more severe form of industrial action than a standard strike.
The 1936-1937 Flint sit-down strike against General Motors in the United States is the most iconic, lasting 44 days and leading to the recognition of the United Auto Workers (UAW).
It is almost exclusively used for labour-industrial disputes. Using it for other types of protest (e.g., students occupying a library) would be metaphorical or incorrect.
A strike in which workers refuse to work, but also refuse to leave their workplace, physically occupying it as a form of protest.
Sit-down strike is usually formal, academic, historical in register.
Sit-down strike: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsɪt daʊn ˈstraɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɪt daʊn ˈstraɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to sit down on the job (related, but not identical)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of workers literally SITTING DOWN at their machines, refusing to work OR leave, STRIKING a blow against management by occupying the factory.
Conceptual Metaphor
LABOUR DISPUTE IS WAR (occupation of territory); PROTEST IS A PHYSICAL BLOCKADE.
Practice
Quiz
What is the defining characteristic of a sit-down strike?