Workers Unite! English Vocabulary for Labor Strikes
When workers aren't happy about something at their job, they may stop working as a way to fight for change. These temporary stops, called "strikes," are powerful tools workers have to make sure they're treated fairly by their employers.
To help you talk about these events in English, this article will introduce some of the major vocabulary and expressions related to labor strikes.
Vocabulary Related to Strikes
Union
One of the most important factors in a strike is a union. Unions are organizations that represent workers and help to protect and improve their working conditions and pay.
In order to join a union, members usually must pay a fee.
Picket line
Picket lines are groups of workers who line up outside of a business in order to announce their complaints and discourage others from entering.
Individual members of a picket line are called "pickets" or "picketers."
Angry workers formed a picket line in front of their office building.
Walkout
Walkouts occur when workers organize and suddenly leave their workplace as a group to protest something.
The company's management was surprised by the walkout, which left the office empty.
Demand
The verb "demand" means "to strongly request something," but it can also be a noun that refers to something that someone is requesting.
When workers go on strike, they usually send a list of demands to their employers.
We will not return to work unless the management meets our demands!
Compromise
This is a very important word, not only for strikes, but for maintaining relationships of all kinds.
"Compromise" can be used as both a noun and a verb. The verb form means "to reach an agreement by mutually giving up some demands." In other words, one side gets some of what they want and so does the other — but neither side gets everything they want.
The workers made it clear that they would not compromise on certain demands.
As a noun, it means "an agreement in which two sides give up things they want in order to agree."
Two weeks after the walkout, the union and factory owners were able to come to a compromise.
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Resolve
When compromises occur, it means both sides were able to resolve, or end, their disagreement. This word can be used for any kind of conflict, even between individual people.
If we sit down and have a discussion, I'm sure we can resolve this problem.
The noun form is "resolution."
We hope to reach a resolution that will please everyone.
Talks
"Talks" (plural) refers to discussions and negotiations. This term is also used in politics and other situations in which agreement between groups is important.
Workers and leaders of the company will begin talks early next week.
The leaders of the two nations are scheduled to have talks in the near future.
Safeguard
A "safeguard" is something that protects people from harm.
Hollywood writers want safeguards that stop movie studios from using AI to replace their jobs.
Other Expressions Related to Strikes
Here are some common expressions you're likely to hear or read related to the topic of labor strikes.
Standstill
When a large number of employees stop working, their company cannot operate as usual. In fact, sometimes all activity stops completely. In these situations, we use the expression "at a standstill," which means that nothing is moving.
The factory's manufacturing has been at a standstill since the strikes began.
Grind to a halt
This is another expression for work or activity that stops.
With the writers and actors on strike, work on the next season of the popular TV show has ground to a halt.
See eye to eye
We use this expression when two groups or individuals have agreed on something.
We don't see eye to eye with the management regarding employee salaries.
It took many days of negotiation for the two sides to see eye to eye.
Hash out a deal
"Hashing out a deal" is creating a contract or making a decision that both sides of a conflict agree to. This expression includes the nuance of requiring hard work to achieve.
We stayed up all night in discussions, but we were finally able to hash out a deal that will end the strike.
Wrap-up
Because of changes due to AI as well as rising prices around the world, many workers feel that it's more important than ever to fight for their rights as a group. The words and expressions we've covered in this article can help you to understand these stories when they appear in the news.
Be sure to also read our post on English for protests, as they share a lot in common with labor strikes.
