GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 24, 2026
Hot Cargo
Hot cargo refers to goods that unionized transport workers collectively refuse to handle, carry, or deliver in solidarity with strikers or as part of a broader labor dispute.
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Source: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/hot-cargo
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Logistics Concept
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Definition & Explanation
Hot cargo refers to goods that unionized transport workers collectively refuse to handle, carry, or deliver in solidarity with strikers or as part of a broader labor dispute. It is a form of secondary boycott: rather than striking against their own employer, workers target neutral third parties—shippers, consignees, or other supply chain actors—to apply economic pressure on the party at the center of the dispute. The practice is historically rooted in North American, Australian, and Scandinavian ports and air freight terminals. Its legal standing varies widely: secondary boycotts are restricted or prohibited by labor law in many jurisdictions.
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