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Glite Dictionary
✊ Unauthorized strike ⛽ Risky oil drilling
wildcatting

wildcatting

9.3
A strike by workers that starts without union approval
  • noun
  • /ˈwaɪldˌkætɪŋ/
  • Jargon
translation icon : huelga salvaje
  • It's the most legitimate, authentic, organic Wildcat strike really in in probably a century in Canada.

It's the most legitimate, authentic, organic Wildcat strike really in in probably a century in Canada.

Examples

  • Union leaders condemned the wildcatting strikes, citing the need for official negotiations.

  • During the meeting, the workers decided to go through with a wildcatting action despite lacking union support.

  • The company faced disruption after several employees engaged in wildcatting to demand better wages.

Synonyms

wildcat strike
vswildcatting
1 7.8

A strike by workers not approved by their union

is participation in such stoppages emphasizing joining without union approval
job action
vswildcatting
  • Specialized
1 5.7

Temporary work protest by workers to demand better pay or conditions

is a specific unauthorized stoppage rather than any temporary protest

How Authorized

to strike
133 3.2
walkout
33 4.8
wildcatting
  • Jargon
9.3

Surface Forms

wildcatting singular
wildcattings plural

Morphology

wildcatting = wildcat (opaque) = wild + cat + ing

The noun is a regular -ing nominalization of the verb wildcat, but the verb itself has a specialized, lexicalized sense.

Etymology

Wildcatting comes from the idea of a wildcat, a lone, unpredictable animal, and was used for actions done 'without permission' or 'not approved by the union', like workers suddenly stopping work. That's why wildcatting means taking part in an unauthorized strike.