Almost overnight, several police officers, all members of the police force of the growing suburb of Mayberry, called in sick. As the dispatcher took those calls, one right after the other, she speculated that there could be more to this story than she was hearing. In fact, she thought it might be related to the emotional banter she heard the night before in the locker room as several members of the force were leaving their shifts. The group was not happy with the recent changes in scheduling, the excessive overtime hours, and, management's reluctance to begin negotiations on a new benefits package. She heard one officer saying, "It's time for a mental health day!" Although it is illegal for police to strike, what the police dispatcher was witnessing may have been ________.
A) Saturday night fever.
B) the blue flu.
C) a lockout.
D) a shutterbug.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The situation described, in which multiple police officers call in sick in protest of working conditions or labor disputes, is commonly referred to as the "blue flu."

Almost Overnight, Several Police Officers, All Members of the Police