work stoppage

noun

: concerted cessation of work by a group of employees usually more spontaneous and less serious than a strike

Examples of work stoppage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As ports worldwide feel the heat of congestion, several of Germany’s docks are seeing work stoppages as more than 11,500 union workers call for a new collective bargaining agreement. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 17 June 2024

The unusual financial penalty was imposed by an arbitrator who found the 10-day work stoppage during the pandemic violated the terms of the labor agreement signed by HCA Healthcare, which operates the hospital, and Service Employees International Union Local 121RN. —Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2024

Negotiators for the Condé Union and management held marathon negotiating sessions in the week and weekend prior to the Met Gala to attempt to avert a work stoppage threatened by the union. —Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 May 2024

This phase is the big one that could, depending on how talks go, result in another historic agreement or yet another work stoppage. —Tribune News Service, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

work stoppage

noun

: a cessation of work by employees as a job action

Note: Work stoppage is often used to refer to a cessation of work that is less serious and more spontaneous than one referred to as a strike. As used in the Labor Management Relations Act strike refers to “any…concerted stoppage of work by employees…and any concerted slowdown or other concerted interruption of operations by employees.”