What term best describes the loss of work as a form of protest in collective bargaining?

The term that best describes the loss of work as a form of protest in collective bargaining is a strike. A strike occurs when workers collectively decide to stop working in order to express their dissatisfaction with working conditions, wages, or other employment terms. This action is typically organized by labor unions as a means of exerting pressure on employers to negotiate better terms. Strikes serve as a powerful tool for workers to assert their rights and demands during the negotiation process, highlighting the importance of collective action in labor relations.

In contrast, a boycott refers to the refusal to buy products or services from a company as a means of protest but does not involve workers stopping work. Negotiation represents the process by which both parties—employers and employees—discuss and bargain over employment conditions, while compromise involves reaching an agreement where both sides make concessions. These concepts are fundamentally different as they do not encapsulate the singular act of stopping work as a tactic to protest and push for change.