go-slow

1 7.4

A protest where workers work slowly on purpose to pressure their employer

noun

: paro técnico

The company's go-slow lasted several weeks, causing frustration among customers waiting for their orders.
go-slow approach

Examples

We were still on the go-slow.

The Riddle (2007)
It is not uncommon to be caught up in one of the city's infamous go-slows for hours on end.

Academic text (2008)
Bush promised nothing more than a go-slow conservatism without pursuing new departures, demonstrating decisive leadership.

Academic text (1994)
During the labor dispute, the workers initiated a go-slow to pressure management for better wages.
As part of the protest, employees decided to implement a go-slow, deliberately reducing their work pace to draw attention to their demands.

Synonyms

job action

vsgo-slow

Specialized

1 5.7

Temporary work protest by workers to demand better pay or conditions

is a specific tactic of slowing work to pressure management

work to rule

vsgo-slow

Literature

7.2

A protest where employees slow down by doing only required tasks

is a deliberate reduction of speed rather than rule based minimal compliance

How Disruptive

to strike

133 3.2

go-slow

1 7.4

work to rule

Literature

7.2

Surface Forms

go-slow singular

go-slows plural

Morphology

go-slow = go + slow (transparent) = go + slow

The noun is a direct nominalization of the phrase 'go slow' (to go slowly) used to describe a deliberate slowdown as protest, which is readily inferable from the components.

Etymology

Go-slow comes from the simple phrase go + slow, which means 'to move slowly', and workers used it to name a protest where they do their work more slowly on purpose. So a go-slow today is a planned slowdown at work to 'put pressure' on an employer.