Secondary Boycott Definition and Legal Meaning

On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of Secondary Boycott, written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used.

What is Secondary Boycott?

(n) Secondary boycott is the organized protest against a company in which a labor dispute or strike exists where by any company or person having business relation with them is also blacklisted for dealing in any item , rendering services etc. For example refusal to buy goods from ABC corporation, if they deal with XYZ & Co where a labor strike exists

History and Meaning of Secondary Boycott

Secondary boycotts have been used throughout history as a tool for labor unions to put pressure on companies during labor disputes or strikes. The strategy involves boycotting not only the primary company they are in dispute with, but also any other companies that do business with them. The idea behind a secondary boycott is that if enough companies refuse to do business with the primary company, it will put enough economic pressure on them to concede to the union’s demands. The legality of secondary boycotts varies depending on the country and local laws.

Examples of Secondary Boycott

  1. During the 1950s, the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) organized a secondary boycott of supermarkets that sold lettuce and grapes in support of California farmworkers who were on strike for better wages and working conditions.
  2. In 2019, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union called for a secondary boycott of the Pacific Maritime Association in response to a labor dispute involving dockworkers in Vancouver, Canada.
  3. The United Farm Workers (UFW) organized a national boycott of table grapes in 1965 in support of grape workers who were on strike for better wages and working conditions.

Legal Terms Similar to Secondary Boycott

  • Primary Boycott: A tactic meant to pressure a company by boycotting them directly.
  • Tertiary Boycott: A type of boycott in which a company is targeted because of their business relationships with other companies that are involved in a labor dispute.
  • Picketing: The act of protesting outside a company’s premises with signs or banners to draw attention to a labor dispute or strike.