strike pay: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal / Technical
Quick answer
What does “strike pay” mean?
Money paid to workers who are on strike, typically by their trade union, to provide financial support during the work stoppage.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Money paid to workers who are on strike, typically by their trade union, to provide financial support during the work stoppage.
A form of financial subsistence provided to participants in an industrial action, intended to offset lost wages and sustain the strike's duration.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Term is identical and used in both varieties. The concept and practice are more culturally embedded in the UK due to stronger historical union traditions.
Connotations
Neutral technical term in industrial relations. Can carry political connotations depending on the speaker's view of trade unions.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK English media and industrial discourse. In US English, it appears primarily in news reports about major strikes or historical/labor studies contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “strike pay” in a Sentence
[Union] paid strike pay to [workers].[Workers] received strike pay from [their union].Strike pay was [amount].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Discussed in HR and industrial relations regarding contingency planning and union agreements.
Academic
Analyzed in sociology, political economy, and labor history texts.
Everyday
Used by workers involved in or considering strike action, and in news reports.
Technical
A defined term in collective bargaining agreements and trade union rulebooks.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “strike pay”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “strike pay”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “strike pay”
- Using 'strike pay' to refer to unemployment benefits.
- Confusing it with 'strike pay' as a verb phrase (e.g., 'The company will strike pay the workers').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, strike pay is typically a lower, subsistence-level payment from a union, not a full salary from an employer.
Not necessarily. It depends on the rules and financial capacity of the specific trade union.
Tax regulations vary by country, but strike pay is often considered taxable income.
Generally no, as it is a benefit provided by and funded through union membership.
Money paid to workers who are on strike, typically by their trade union, to provide financial support during the work stoppage.
Strike pay is usually formal / technical in register.
Strike pay: in British English it is pronounced /ˈstraɪk ˌpeɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈstraɪk ˌpeɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “live on strike pay”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: When workers STRIKE, their union may PAY them to continue the fight.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUSTENANCE FOR BATTLE (strike pay is nourishment/fuel for the conflict).
Practice
Quiz
What is 'strike pay' primarily associated with?