The term “scab” is a derogatory term for a strike breaker, originating from an Old English slur. Strikes were important in the early labor movement, but companies began recruiting people to break them. Workers who give in too easily or work through a strike weaken the cause. Crossing the picket line weakens the strikers’ case.
A “scab” is a derogatory term used to describe a strike breaker. The term is actually an Old English slur that has been used to describe a contemptible person since at least the 1590s. In the 1700s, this term was used for someone who refused to join a trade union, and by 1806, the word had reached its modern use. Union activists and more moderate unions use the term “strike” instead, but the slang term is often used in speeches and literature designed to inflame strikers.
Whenever workers refuse to work to get concessions, it’s called a strike. Strikes were an important part of the early labor movement, which campaigned for safer working conditions, better pay, and more reasonable hours. These early strikes were often brutally put down, and workers had the choice between going back to work or starving. Unions tried to help with this by organizing workers, who paid dues that could be used to support them during a strike. A single scab could greatly weaken the cause of the bond.
In response to the more organized work, companies began recruiting people willing to break the strike. These people could be existing employees or outside contractors. By crossing the picket line of strikers marching and holding placards for better working conditions, the scab hurts the workers’ cause. For this reason, the term “crust” began to spread, as it was someone who behaved dishonorably in the culture of the eighteenth century. Retaliation against sucking workers can sometimes be brutal.
The term is also used to indicate workers who give in too easily to the benefits offered by a company. Labor activists believe that the strike is an effective tool and that if workers unite, they can achieve their goals. Workers who accept partial concessions weaken the cause of the whole, as do people who work through the strike. Sometimes, striking workers are surprised when temporary workers hired to replace them become permanent.
When a strike is in progress, people supporting it should refrain from crossing the picket line. Workers typically form a gang in front of the company they work for to inform people that there is a strike and why. By crossing the picket line, strikebreakers and consumers indicate they are not concerned about workers’ rights, and weaken the strikers’ case. In some cases, people may feel compelled to cross a picket line; college students, for example, can be told they have to attend classes whether or not university staff slips. This tactic is often used to derail assaults.
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