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

However, the rate was skewed by work stoppages caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, as well as the strike of more than 30,000 West Coast Boeing plant workers. —Megan Poinski, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

Tens of thousands of striking Boeing machinists are casting ballots on Monday over whether to approve a contract offer that could end their work stoppage after seven weeks. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2024

But safety concerns among transit staff can heighten employees’ dissatisfaction, leading to retention problems or even the threat of a work stoppage or strike that can halt a city’s buses or trains, Rennert said. —Sarah Freishtat, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2024

This year, Lombardini navigated months of hard negotiations with IATSE without a work stoppage. —Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 1 Nov. 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.”