A walkout refers to an unplanned strike by workers, it is used interchangeably with a strike. It is also referred to as a wildcat strike.
Despite its statutory recognition of the right to strike, the federal Taft-Hartley Act prohibits some types of concerted pressure. Individuals who participate in wildcat strikes are engaged in unprotected activity and may be subject to employer discipline. Discipline imposed against wildcat strikers must be nondiscriminatory. The employer may, however, single out instigators for harsher discipline than is imposed against other participants.
