1. (

• featherbedding

) the practice (usually by a labor union) of requiring an employer to hire more workers than are required ;

1. (

• pamper ,
• featherbed ,
• cosset ,
• cocker ,
• baby ,
• coddle ,
• mollycoddle ,
• spoil ,
• indulge

) treat with excessive indulgence; "grandparents often pamper the children"; "Let's not mollycoddle our students!" ;

2. (

• featherbed

) hire more workers than are necessary ;