ArmitageShanks From United Kingdom (England), joined Dec 2003, 2906 posts, RR: 14 Posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 3841 times:
I've heard this mentioned a lot of times with regard to mechanics and FA's.
Are they standby employees that are not scheduled to work or are they from other airlines, etc?
What do the employees that the scabs replace think about using them?
Yyz717 From Canada, joined Sep 2001, 14955 posts, RR: 59 Reply 1, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 3829 times:
"Scabs" is a common term used by unions to describe non-union strike breakers hired by mgmt to work while a strike is ongoing. It can also refer to union members who choose to cross the picket line and work.
I prefer to call them "freedom workers", not "scabs".
FlyGuyClt From United States, joined Aug 2005, 537 posts, RR: 20 Reply 6, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 3784 times:
S. Secure
C. Confident
A. Airline
B. Builder.
Sorry, just had to throw some gas on this fire !
Scabs, are anyone who crosses a picket line at a company when a union is on strike at that company. Thus, taking the job of the striking employee. Not a fun situation for anyone envovled on either side.
CV580Freak From United Arab Emirates, joined Jul 2005, 914 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 3772 times:
Freedom Workers
One day you are the pigeon, the next the statue ...
BR715-A1-30 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 3830 times:
I do not consider myself a scab, freedom worker, or anything of the nature. I consider myself someone who saw a great opportunity and took it. granted it may piss a few people off, but I don't know the people I piss off, and I could really care less anymore. Sure, I'd LIKE to hang with my crew, but it isn't a necessity of the job. If they don't want to invite me to dinner on a layover, that's fine, ain't gonna make me cry, but if they want to invite me, I'll kindly accept the offer. regardless of how I enter the airline industry, I want people to know me for who I am and not what I did. Those who have a true heart will look at me and like me for the kindness I exhibit towards their feelings.
AFAIK, The Flight Attendants ARE NOT Striking, so I do not consider myself a scab unless I cross a picket line full of people wearing MY uniform... That, I WILL NOT do.
Jush From Germany, joined Apr 2005, 1480 posts, RR: 3 Reply 12, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 3721 times:
Quoting Aviationwiz (Reply 5): Quoting ACAfan (Reply 2):
They are the scum of the Earth.
Absolutely, with no doubt about it. I may find the Respected Users list useless... but welcome to mine.
Well you'll never get on mine cause of that statement. but as you don't care it doesn't matter anyway...
Unions are the scum of the Earth. Founded with good sense and ideas have turned into rubbish. Not only airline unions
There is one problem with airbus. Though their products are an engineering marvel they lack passion, completely.
DALMD88 From United States, joined Jul 2000, 1736 posts, RR: 7 Reply 13, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 3698 times:
Scab, A worker who refuses to join in a strike or who takes the place of a striker.
A lot of members on this board are very anti union. Even though without unions our workplace in North America and Europe would be very different. Things like paid sick time, overtime pay, medical insurance, 40 hour work weeks, workplace safety, pension plans to name a few might not be. Before labor unions many workers lived in company housing and were paid in script that could only be used at the company store. If you couldn't work, even due to to a work related injury, too bad.
Having a contract with your employer isn't a bad idea. Most people have contracts for a lot of liablities. Think about your home mortgage or apartment lease. How about your car loan or credit cards? These are all contracts you have agreed to pay out. Now at work you work without a contract. Your employer can do what ever they think they can legally get away with. If you don't like it you only have one recourse, Walk out. The one man strike.
DFORCE1 From Canada, joined Jul 2005, 434 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 3663 times:
As far as I'm concerned anyone who lacks maturity to the point that they prejudge someone they don't even know and refer to them as scum for minding their own business and doing their job is the true scum of the earth.
And at this point, I don't care if you're union or not, nobody has the right to refer to anyone as scum!
If unions are supposed to protect employees from employers, who is going to protect innocent people trying to get their own piece of the American dream from unioners? Grow up!
Traindriver From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 15, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 3649 times:
I retired from the Railroad industry, hence my user name.
Railroads like airlines in this country are highly unionized.
DALMD80 brings up some great points, really sums-up
my experiences with the union I was a member of.
Being from the Northeast which is a heavily unionized
region of the US, I have no use for scabs. I consider
them the bottom feeders of labor.
Robsawatsky From Canada, joined Dec 2003, 593 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 3635 times:
DALMD88 you make many good points about what unions have historically accomplished. However, it is a tired-out old rhetoric now. What are unions doing NOW for the general employee, union or non-union?
Having a contract doesn't guarantee a better employment relationship. The best relationship is obtained by having employees and employers both realizing they need each other and both parties taking responsibility for the success of the other. Unfortunately, most unions (and yes I have been a union member) are more concerned about their own self-interested survival (as an organization) above the combined, mutually beneficial interest of the employee/employer relationship. It is in the self-interest of unions to do as much as possible to ensure that an antagonistic rather than cooperative attitude is developed and maintained between employee/employer. Attending 1 union meeting when it comes to contract negotiation time will bear this out.
As for 'scabs', I don't support their use because it is an interference in a contractual relationship. However, I also don't support the wink-wink-nudge-nudge intimidation and violence tactics that are implicitly condoned by unions against 'scabs'.
Ouboy79 From United States, joined Nov 2001, 2712 posts, RR: 21 Reply 18, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 3554 times:
A side note....how many posts will this thread go before getting locked?
To the question in the topic...I think the definition changes daily depending on how much of a "hard core" union-type the person is. I've seen people throw out the word against people work on a lower pay scale, outsourced operations, etc. All of this without a strike anywhere in sight.
Just keep in mind if you cross the line, more than likely you'll see your name, birth date, home address, and social security number posted on numerous lists on the internet. I guess its a new way to keep from scabbing...avoid identity theft, support the strike.
My blog on life and chasing. :) No URL in signature please
B744F From Germany, joined Jan 2006, 0 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 3522 times:
Scabs are used by overpaid management to keep the real wages of Union employees down in the long run. Because in the end, management has the upper hand because they write the checks.
Quoting Yyz717 (Reply 1): I prefer to call them "freedom workers", not "scabs".
what nonsense! They are nonskilled desperate people who never wanted to actually get the job like everyone else, they are proud to be used and abused by management and pretend like what they are doing is good for everyone, while it is only good for the pocket books of the execs.
777Purser From United States, joined Aug 2005, 219 posts, RR: 5 Reply 20, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 3506 times:
TO THE SCAB WHO DOES NOT CARE HOW HE ENTERS THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY:
The problem with accepting this "great" opportunity is that you are allowing management to diminish the leverage of a union. The union has fought tooth and nail for whatever compensation, benefits and work rules that group of people enjoy. They have earned it not overnight but through Multiple negotiations over the DECADES. So when you cross the picket line you go against all that. You are just willing to take the crumbs that are offered to you.
I urge you to really take a look at what it involves and the consequences. It is not as simple as not being invited to dinner. It is about not being respected by anyone. Your name will be on a list that everyone will carry around, the union wont give you a pin so everyone can spot you and at the end of the day...GUESS WHAT:
When things get a little more settled and back to normal you "friends" of MANAGEMENT will turn against you and try to get rid of you because SCABS are not good for company morale, they cause too much friction. As you are not represented by a Union it will be easier for them to just get rid of you. A SCABS walk on eggshells forever.
So, you are free to make your own desicions...someone described scabs as freedom worker. OK, like everything in life, we make desicions, we take actions and live with the consequences. That's it. Just think about it.