A scab is traditionally a union member who crosses the picket line to return to work, while others remain on strike to pressure their employer to address a collective grievance. A strike is an escalation tactic workers can turn to after experiencing an injustice on the job like low pay, safety issues, or a refusal from their employer to bargain a contract for fair working conditions.
Excerpt from “Ode To A Scab” by Jack London (1904)
After God had finished the rattlesnake, the toad, and 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 waterlogged brain, and a combination backbone made of jelly and glue. Where others have hearts, he carries a tumor of rotten principles.
Jack London wrote his famous definition of a scab in 1904. The word “scab” dates back to the Middle Ages, when people widely saw scabbed or diseased skin as a sign of a corrupt or immoral character. English writers later adopted “scab” as slang for a scoundrel. United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain recently revived the term at the 2024 Democratic National Convention. He wore a T-shirt denouncing former President Donald Trump as a scab for suggesting that bosses should fire striking workers.
By crossing the picket line, scabs signal to the boss that breaking a strike — and maybe even getting rid of the union altogether — is a possibility. Sometimes, employers hire scabs to replace striking workers. Workplace tensions between the strikers and the scabs can endure for many years, creating division when unity is most needed, like during contract negotiations or re-negotiations.
How can solidarity discourage scabs?
One essential part of contract negotiations is “scab prevention.” It’s important to make sure that all members — even non-members in an open shop that doesn’t require union membership — are involved in negotiations, so they know the importance of the issues being discussed and don’t feel divided if a strike is imminent. A strike should address concerns that all members share, so that everyone feels prepared to act in solidarity towards a common goal before a contract expires.
Part of the “service model” of unionism is the separation of union officers and paid staff from the members themselves. This model views paid staff as providers of a service and members as the beneficiaries. By imposing this hierarchy and not closely involving members in processes like contract negotiation, there’s less of a chance to build much needed agency and autonomy among them, which are key in the “organizing model.” This differentiation is especially vivid during a strike. While members are out on the street, sacrificing income and benefits, union officers continue to collect a regular paycheck and benefits. Often, officers don’t fully understand the desperation of many members, which can lead them to cross the picket line to return to work — and ultimately become a scab.
How can better benefits prevent scabbing?
Another part of scab prevention involves workers’ families. Parents and children should understand that the potential economic sacrifices and social tensions that are part of a strike are necessary. Fighting for “family benefits” during contract negotiations, like better insurance coverage, more paid time off, and regular scheduling of workplace shifts, will eventually benefit the whole family.
Sometimes, unions will set up strike funds to help cover lost wages as a result of striking, but this isn’t always the case. In many unions, the strike pay doesn’t even start until several weeks into a strike, making it really difficult for workers to support their families. Often, strike benefits from well-resourced unions are paltry, which increases the incentive to scab.
Bosses will even try cutting off all health insurance benefits during a strike. This is a common union-busting tactic that creates an impossible situation for members who rely on those benefits to take care of themselves or their family. Union officers can get ahead of this by contacting insurance carriers to ensure the continuation of coverage, even if the union pays the premiums during a strike.
How does pay factor into scabbing?
The development of the two-tier wage structure is one important example of discouraging scabbing. In this system, newer employees are paid less than more established employees with the same title. Convincing members that a two-tier structure will eventually benefit all employees — new, established, and future — helps create the sense of self-interest that can sustain a strike.
Historically, workers who have been denied union membership — like immigrants or Black Americans — were forced into becoming scabs (although many have been leaders in the labor movement). Some companies even provide professional scabs, also known as “strikebreakers,” who are often paid at a much higher rate than union workers. It’s important for the union to be aware of these firms and research them in order to block them.
What other leverage do we have as workers?
The most important part of union contract negotiations is looking for leverage, which is the power to make employers do what they don’t want to do. A strike is usually considered the only leverage employees have, but union strategists need to look at all other possibilities, like work stoppages, refusal to work overtime, and boycotts. It’s essential to review all of your options short of a strike to win a fair contract during negotiations. A member is much less likely to become a scab if activities don’t cut off their income and benefits.
