Real Dictionary

featherbedding in American English
the practice of limiting output or requiring extra workers, as by union contract, in order to provide more jobs and prevent unemployment
noun: the practice of requiring an employer to hire unnecessary employees, to assign unnecessary work, or to limit production according to a union rule or safety statute

featherbedding in British English
noun: the practice of limiting production, duplicating work, or overmanning, esp in accordance with a union contract, in order to prevent redundancies or create jobs