Blackleg (Noun)
Meaning
Someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike.
Classification
Nouns denoting people.
Examples
- The union leader accused the company of hiring blacklegs to break the strike and undermine the workers' demands.
- During the coal miners' strike, many scabs and blacklegs were brought in to maintain production levels.
- The striking factory workers picketed outside the gates, angry at the management for employing blacklegs to operate the machinery.
- Local community leaders condemned the recruitment agency for providing blacklegs to the construction site, where workers were on strike over pay and conditions.
- After the strike was broken by the influx of blacklegs, many of the original workers were refused re-employment by the company.