What is the term for when workers engage in an organized refusal to work?

The term for when workers engage in an organized refusal to work is a strike. Strikes are typically organized by labor unions or groups of workers to demand better working conditions, higher wages, or other employment-related issues. This form of collective action is a key method by which workers can leverage their collective power against employers, often leading to negotiations for improved labor agreements.

In contrast, a boycott involves consumers refusing to purchase products or services from a particular company to show disapproval or to effect change. Unionization refers to the process of forming or joining a labor union, which is a long-term strategy to protect workers' rights and interests through collective bargaining, rather than an immediate action like a strike. Protests are demonstrations aimed at expressing a group's opinion on a specific issue but do not necessarily involve the refusal to work. Thus, the definition of a strike directly aligns with the organized refusal to work as a form of labor action.