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A work-to-rule is a form of industrial action where workers work exactly to their job descriptions, and do the absolute minimum according to their workplace rules.
Workers and Trade Unions carry out a work-to-rule when they want to make a protest to their employers, or to put pressure on them; for example to achieve better working conditions or higher pay.
work-to-rule is chiefly a British English expression.
Example of use:
According to the BBC, more than 300,000 public sector workers in the Republic of Ireland are to begin a national work-to-rule in protest at pay cuts introduced in the budget.
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[...] The workers say they will work-to-rule, but we think it's a storm in a [...]