Why do they call them scabs?
The term “scab” was first used in the 13th century to mean a nasty, itchy skin disease or the crust that forms on a wound. By 1806, the word “scab” arrived at its current meaning — a strikebreaker who willingly crosses the picket line [source: Lexicon of Labor, Online Etymology Dictionary].
What did it mean to be a scab?
Legal Definition of scab 1 : a worker who refuses to join a labor union. 2 : a union member who refuses to strike or returns to work before a strike has ended. 3 : a worker who accepts employment or replaces a union worker during a strike : strikebreaker.
What is a scab in a union?
AFL-CIO. One of the most well-known union words is “scab.” It’s a name given to workers who break strikes and cross picket lines.
What is a scab political?
A strikebreaker (sometimes called a scab, blackleg, or knobstick) is a person who works despite an ongoing strike.
What picket line means?
a group of people holding signs to show that they are not working and are having a disagreement with their employer: Truck drivers refused to cross the picket line.
What’s another word for scab?
In this page you can discover 18 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for scab, like: crust, rat, dandruff, deserter, blackleg, pustule, scurf, traitor, incrustation, scoundrel and fink.
What happens if a union member crosses the picket line?
If an employee is a union member, the union can legally impose fines if the member violates its rules. However, if the employee resigns from the union before crossing the picket line, the employee cannot be fined. This has been the law according to the U.S. Supreme Court since at least the 1960s.
Where did the term picket line come from?
The term itself comes from the French word piquet, meaning a stake or pole stuck in the ground, either to hold up a tent or fence or to mark a line.
Is eschar and a scab the same thing?
To distinguish between a scab and eschar, remember that a scab is a collection of dried blood cells and serum and sits on top of the skin surface. Eschar is a collection of dead tissue within the wound that is flush with skin surface.
What happens if a union member refuses to strike?
Many courts have held that unions have the power to discipline their members. This discipline can include imposing a significant fine upon and then suing you to enforce the payment of the fine. If you wish to avoid consequences like that, you cannot remain a member of the union and cross the picket line.