Reply #5: Reminds me of the "Match Girls"

[dipsydoodle]

...........the women had been severely affected by the phosphorous that they used to make the matches. This caused yellowing of the skin and hair loss and phossy jaw, a form of bone cancer. The whole side of the face turned green and then black, discharging foul-smelling pus and finally death. Although phosphorous was banned in Sweden and the USA, the British government had refused to follow their example, arguing that it would be a restraint of free trade.

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/TUmatchgirls.htm

I'd wondered if the "strike" at the match factory was the origin of that word in context of a labour dispute but no -it's a nautical expression used in context of navel yard disputes. You couldn't shift a square masted ship with its sails struck.