What Exactly Is A Scab?

[usair_begins_with_u]

I know a scab is some one who crosses a picket line, but what is the origin of the word SCAB? How did the word scab become associated with those who cross picket lines? is it an acronym? i.e. scuba = Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus?

 

[wnbubbleboy]

I know a scab is some one who crosses a picket line, but what is the origin of the word SCAB? How did the word scab become associated with those who cross picket lines? is it an acronym? i.e. scuba = Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus?

[post="238184"][/post]​

"Definition of a Strikebreaker," by Jack London

JACK LONDON, the man who wrote the famous definition of a scab, was born on Jan. 12, 1876 in San Francisco. London's bloodcurdling definition of a strikebreaker - a person who takes a striking worker's job and goes to work behind a picketline - follows:

"After God had finished the rattlesnake, the toad, the vampire, He had some awful substance left with which He made a scab. A scab is a two-legged animal with a corkscrew soul, a water-logged brain, a combination backbone made of jelly and glue. Where others have hearts he carries a tumor of rotten principle.

When a scab comes down the street men turn their backs and angels weep in Heaven, and the devil shuts the gates of Hell to keep him out. No man has a right to scab so long as there is a pool of water to drown his body in, or a rope long enough to hang his carcass with.

JUDAS ISCARIOT was a gentleman compared with a scab. For betraying his Master he had character enough to hang himself - a scab has not. Esau sold his birthright for a mess of pottage. Judas Iscariot sold his Savior for 30 pieces of silver. Benedict Arnold sold his country for the promise of a commission in the British Army.

The modern strikebreaker sells his birthright, his country, his wife, his children, and his fellow man for an unfilled promise from his employer, trust or corporation. Esau was a traitor to himself. Judas Iscariot was a traitor to his God. Benedict Arnold was a traitor to his country; a strikebreaker to his God, his country, his family, his class.

A real man will never scab."

 

[4merresrat]

I know a scab is some one who crosses a picket line, but what is the origin of the word SCAB? How did the word scab become associated with those who cross picket lines? is it an acronym? i.e. scuba = Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus?

[post="238184"][/post]​

A scab is a crust of a cutaneous sore, wound, ulcer, or pustule formed by drying of the discharge!!! 🙄

 

[featheroleather]

1 A SCAB helps heal the wounds of the company or as we at CAL found out in 83 Suddenly Captain After Bankruptcy

 

[featheroleather]

A SCAB helps heal the wounds of the company or as we at CAL found out in 83 ....... Suddenly Captain After Bankruptcy

 

[deano]

I know a scab is some one who crosses a picket line, but what is the origin of the word SCAB? How did the word scab become associated with those who cross picket lines? is it an acronym? i.e. scuba = Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus?

[post="238184"][/post]​

scab (skab), n., v., scabbed, scab·bing.
–n.
1. the incrustation that forms over a sore or wound during healing.
2. Vet. Pathol. a mangy disease in animals, esp. sheep; scabies. Cf. itch (def. 10).
3. Plant Pathol.
a. a disease of plants characterized by crustlike lesions on the affected parts and caused by a fungus or bacterium.
b. one of these crustlike lesions.
4. a worker who refuses to join a labor union or to participate in a union strike, who takes a striking worker's place on the job, or the like.
5. Slang. a rascal or scoundrel.
6. Metall.
a. a projection or roughness on an ingot or casting from a defective mold.
b. a surface defect on an iron or steel piece resulting from the rolling in of scale.
7. Carpentry. a short, flat piece of wood used for various purposes, as binding two timbers butted together or strengthening a timber at a weak spot.
–v.i.
8. to become covered with a scab.
9. to act or work as a scab.
[1200–50; 1800–10 for def. 4; ME < ON skabb scab, itch; cf. SHABBY, SHAVE]
—scabÆlikeÅ, adj.

 

[NeedForSpeed]

"Definition of a Strikebreaker," by Jack London

The modern strikebreaker sells his birthright, his country, his wife, his children, and his fellow man for an unfilled promise from his employer, trust or corporation. Esau was a traitor to himself. Judas Iscariot was a traitor to his God. Benedict Arnold was a traitor to his country; a strikebreaker to his God, his country, his family, his class.

A real man will never scab."

[post="238190"][/post]​

This is the difference...Jack London wrote this in 1876.......We are currently in the year 2005. To understand the difference, read an excellent book.....Out of this furnace. Deals with immigrants coming to Pittsburgh to work the steel mills operated by Carnegie, and Frick, et al... Explains in good detail why unions were started, and believe me, they were needed! Fast forward to 2005, and the previous post....edited by me because the "Definition of a Strikebreaker" has been posted for the millionth time on these boards!!

I kept this portion of the post because this is the greatest portion of Londons' writing!! Sells his birthright, his country,his wife,his children, and fellow man??
In the 21st century, some observations are in order:

In 1876, selling your birthright may have had some meaning,as most workers of the day were immigrants from Europe, looking to the USA to start over....back then they became true "Americans", today, they do not!....Along with that, nationalism was a big thing in Europe, and the USA, therefore did not want to "insult" their "country"(whether their native country, or USA),Today, it does NOT matter!

Today, It is all a matter of providing for your wife, and children..... by any means neccessary! As far as your fellow man.......Where has that been for the last 30 years!!!?

I'm not disputing the facts of a scab, just trying to provide some insight into why things are the way they are today! Unionism is only 13% of the workforce today! there is a reason for that!! GOOD DAY!!!!

 

[E-TRONS]

NFS,

If you are at peace with the "Walmarting" of America then you need to check yourself.

Everyone is so into this cheaper is better crap......a popular misconception!! Had it not been for union labor in the airline industry exactly how much would Delta Airlines willingly pay it's employees??? You think the wages they receive are out of the company's benevolence??? Guess again. Delta pays their employees just enough to keep the UNIONS out. Think hard about that little fact. American is not a 3rd world country THANKS to UNIONS. However, Corporate America is hell bent on changing that.

SCABS are out for themselves without considering the effect of their actions. They are cowards and have no intestinal fortitude nor do they have any integrity. No self respecting individual would turn their back on their coworkers suffering the injustices of judicial-assisted union busting. Yet so many of you white collared types seem to have no problem with the concept of lowering the standard of living for the working slobs that make a company operate. UAIR is but one company. This trend is rampant throughout America.

Where I come from, You get what you pay for.....you reap what you sow and most of all you stand up for what is right. It's rather apparent that many of you fools cannot grasp that concept.

 

[Bizman]

SCABS are out for themselves without considering the effect of their actions. They are cowards and have no intestinal fortitude nor do they have any integrity. No self respecting individual would turn their back on their coworkers suffering the injustices of judicial-assisted union busting.

[post="238288"][/post]​

It's clear that you don't have a family, because many of these people that you call scabs, are not "out for themselves", but are trying to put food on the table for their kids. In todays world it's a dog eat dog world and you better get use to it. Unions were very good in many industries for many years. It's a global economy now and unions are a business just like any other business. With objective of keeping membership up at any cost (to keep that money flowing in). I for one support these people who are willing to get out there and actually work for a living, instead of complaining how "we are getting screwed". Get a clue, if your not willing to work, someone will step in your place who is.

 

[delldude]

NFS,

If you are at peace with the "Walmarting" of America then you need to check yourself.

Everyone is so into this cheaper is better crap......a popular misconception!! Had it not been for union labor in the airline industry exactly how much would Delta Airlines willingly pay it's employees??? You think the wages they receive are out of the company's benevolence??? Guess again. Delta pays their employees just enough to keep the UNIONS out. Think hard about that little fact. American is not a 3rd world country THANKS to UNIONS. However, Corporate America is hell bent on changing that.

SCABS are out for themselves without considering the effect of their actions. They are cowards and have no intestinal fortitude nor do they have any integrity. No self respecting individual would turn their back on their coworkers suffering the injustices of judicial-assisted union busting. Yet so many of you white collared types seem to have no problem with the concept of lowering the standard of living for the working slobs that make a company operate. UAIR is but one company. This trend is rampant throughout America.

Where I come from, You get what you pay for.....you reap what you sow and most of all you stand up for what is right. It's rather apparent that many of you fools cannot grasp that concept.

[post="238288"][/post]​

etronz....
is not what nfs purveys.....
nfs makes light of the prior labor struggles to get to where we are now...but lets take a step back and look at ourselves....
nfs indicates as to how we are to the point in time we all share.....
the point in time of labor's history.......'
we are all at a crossroads for the preservation of unionism and the furthering of our ideals.....are we not faced with poor attendance and apathy all over??and who do we blame for this??the union....so tell me what constitutes a union?? MEMBERS.
SO WHO IS ARE OWN WORST ENEMY BUT OURSELVES......
excellent rant NFS..... 😉 B)

 

[JS]

Now that labor laws and anti-trust laws have been passed, implemented and long established in this country (with the exception of Walmart :angry: ), a scab is now merely someone who doesn't let an archaic organization known as a "union" stop them from being a productive member of society.

 

[NeedForSpeed]

etronz....
is not what nfs purveys.....
nfs makes light of the prior labor struggles to get to where we are now...but lets take a step back and look at ourselves....
nfs indicates as to how we are to the point in time we all share.....
the point in time of labor's history.......'
we are all at a crossroads for the preservation of unionism and the furthering of our ideals.....are we not faced with poor attendance and apathy all over??and who do we blame for this??the union....so tell me what constitutes a union?? MEMBERS.
SO WHO IS ARE OWN WORST ENEMY BUT OURSELVES......
excellent rant NFS..... 😉 B)

[post="238300"][/post]​

Thank you Delldude, I knew there would be some people who understood my point!!!!

 

[usairways_vote_NO]

I know a scab is some one who crosses a picket line, but what is the origin of the word SCAB? How did the word scab become associated with those who cross picket lines? is it an acronym? i.e. scuba = Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus?

[post="238184"][/post]​

Scab
The labor sense of this word dates as far back as 1777. The original sense is anyone who refused to join a union, guild, or other labor organization.

There is an older sense of scab, dating to the late 16th century, meaning a low fellow or a rascal. The labor term undoubtedly comes from this, which in turn comes from the sense of a scab being a disease of the skin or something unpleasant and nasty.

 

[nycbusdriver]

The short answer:

A scab is someone who does struck work.

 

[E-TRONS]

It's clear that you don't have a family, because many of these people that you call scabs, are not "out for themselves", but are trying to put food on the table for their kids. In todays world it's a dog eat dog world and you better get use to it. Unions were very good in many industries for many years. It's a global economy now and unions are a business just like any other business. With objective of keeping membership up at any cost (to keep that money flowing in). I for one support these people who are willing to get out there and actually work for a living, instead of complaining how "we are getting screwed". Get a clue, if your not willing to work, someone will step in your place who is.


Surprise!!!! I do have a family and I WILL provide for them by working outside of aviation. I have many skills that can be applied in a number of capacities. I will always make money doing something. And when I get furloughed I will put that plan into effect.

I will not give into this "at least you have your job" crap!! There was a time that someone who dared crossing a picket line would have his ass handed to him. But the people willing to do that have long since been gone. Now all we have are sheep bleating about....."Oh, I will work for anything you give me." "You won't find a job like this..." What a bunch of wusses!!! People like yourself have assisted in the demise of the middle class in this country by buying into all that maligned corporate philosophy.

When the middle class is gone there will be nobody to buy those great Chinese products that were produced on the cheap. They won't have any money to spend outside of living expenses. Where will the profits be then?? I would start my search in the basement.

I have worked my ass off to ensure the passengers have a safe aircraft more times than not!! You can't even begin to know what mechanics do behind the scenes. Yup, we are all lazy slobs that want everything for free <_< . Everything gets done by itself and the company never screws with our livelihoods.

We dedicated our careers to UAIR and they repeatedly slash our wages and want to farm us out. All the while management pays bonuses to retain the talent !!! That is the reality I live in BIZMAN.....not that Rush Limbaughesque banter you speak of :down: .

Mark this down.......This company will indeed fail after all this restructuring smoke clears out. And who do you suppose will be responsible for that??