Legal Definitions - sit-down strike

Sit-down strike

A sit-down strike is a specific type of labor protest where employees cease their work duties but remain physically present inside their workplace, refusing to leave the premises. Unlike a traditional strike where workers picket outside, a sit-down strike involves occupying the employer's property, often to exert greater pressure on management by disrupting operations from within and preventing replacement workers from easily taking over.

• Example 1: Imagine a large automotive factory where workers are demanding better safety conditions. Instead of walking out and picketing outside the gates, the employees stop the assembly lines, turn off their machines, and remain seated at their workstations throughout the plant. They refuse to leave the building, effectively halting all production and preventing management from bringing in temporary workers to continue operations.

  This illustrates a sit-down strike because the workers have stopped working but are actively occupying the employer's property (the factory floor) and refusing to vacate it, thereby disrupting production from within.

• Example 2: Employees at a major software company's customer support center are protesting recent layoffs and increased workload. On a designated day, all customer service representatives stop answering calls and responding to emails, but they stay at their desks in the office, using their computers for personal tasks or simply sitting quietly. They do not leave the building, making it impossible for the company to provide customer support and occupying valuable office space.

  This is a sit-down strike because the employees have ceased their job functions (answering calls/emails) but are physically remaining inside their workplace, preventing the company from easily resuming operations or using the space for other purposes.

• Example 3: In a large retail store, sales associates and stockroom staff are unhappy with their low wages and lack of benefits. During a busy shopping day, they collectively decide to stop assisting customers, ringing up sales, or restocking shelves. However, instead of walking out, they remain inside the store, standing near their departments or sitting in break rooms, refusing to leave the premises until their demands are addressed. The store remains open, but no actual work is being performed by the striking employees.

  This demonstrates a sit-down strike as the employees have stopped performing their duties but are occupying the retail space, disrupting sales and operations from within the store itself.