A workman who refuses to join an organized movement on behalf of his trade; in extended uses: a person who refuses to join a strike or who takes over the work of a striker; a blackleg; a strike-breaker.
| Example | Meaning |
Speaker: It was like ah- people were soaping windows and breaking windows of the guys who were working- Interviewer: Really? Speaker: Because they were what call scabs. Interviewer: Scabs. Speaker: Yeah tha-- that's what they called the guy who went to work when they were on strike. It was even worse in Kirkland-Lake of course. |
The men who went to work when the workers were on strike |
| Example | Meaning |
Interviewer: You had mentioned "scab" earlier, is that- is that a universal thing or is that more of a northern Ontario or Timmins thing? I'm not sure how you'd use it. Speaker: Well, I think, ah, the word "scab", ah, has always been used in- in the labour movement. |
The men who went to work when the workers were on strike |
This guy was management so they- he- in those days you were classified as a scab if- because you went to work when the guys were on strike. So, he was stuck, my dad went over to ah, help him. Well, these guys, you-know, they wanted to fight, they wanted to do everything because you're helping a scab. Neighbour comes first, family. Neighbours and family. |
The men who went to work when the workers were on strike |
