UAW president Shawn Fain’s 'scab' t-shirt at DNC goes viral, here’s what the term means

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: United Auto Workers (UAW) president Shawn Fain made headlines at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) with a provocative t-shirt that has since grabbed headlines.

The shirt—partially visible under his jacket—was emblazoned with the words, “Trump is a scab. Vote Harris.”

The message, in essence, encapsulated Fain’s endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee and framed the upcoming election as a battle for the working class.

Shawn Fain's endorsement of Kamala Harris

During the opening night of the DNC, Shawn Fain publicly threw his support behind Kamala Harris.

After becoming the face of a resurgent labor movement amid the UAW’s contract negotiations and strike against major American automakers in 2023, Fain used this platform to stress the importance of electing a leader who supports the working class.

He showered praise on President Joe Biden for walking a picket line during the UAW strike and noted that Harris herself had shown similar solidarity by joining a picket line during her time as a California senator.

Fain’s framing of the election as a “pro vs anti-working class” battle echoed sentiments voiced by six union presidents earlier at the convention. "For us in the labor movement, it's real simple: Kamala Harris is one of us," he declared.

Meanwhile, the phrase “Trump is a scab,” prominently displayed on Fain’s t-shirt, was not just a fashion choice—but rather a pointed critique of former president Donald Trump. Fain used the term “scab” during his speech as an applause line, rallying support among union members and other attendees.

What does 'scab' mean?

Speaking of organized labor, “scab” is said to be a rather derogatory term. According to the Huffington Post, a scab refers to a worker who refuses to join a union, abandons union membership, or crosses a picket line to work during a strike—weakening the bargaining power of striking workers in the process.

The term is synonymous with “strikebreaker,” and older terms like “blackleg” and “knobstick” have also been used in similar contexts. A scab is seen as someone who undermines the collective efforts of workers to secure better wages, benefits, and working conditions.

The origins of the term “scab” date back to the late 16th century, when it was used to describe scoundrels and disreputable individuals. Lexicographer and Wall Street Journal columnist Ben Zimmer told the Huffington Post that it possibly derived from the Dutch word “schabbe.”

“‘Scab’ started getting used for scoundrels and disreputable people in the late 16th century, possibly related to a similar use of ‘schabbe’ in Dutch,” Zimmer explained. “Then in the late 18th century, it got applied to workers who refused to join trade unions."

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the first recorded use of “scab” in the sense of a skin disease dates back to 1250. By around 1400, the word had acquired its modern medical meaning, referring to the crust that forms over a cut or sore.

The insult “scab” began to be used in the 1580s, likely due to the association between a disreputable person’s lifestyle and the physical appearance of scabs and sores—possibly related to diseases like syphilis.

That said, the term “scab” has become so ingrained in labor culture that it even inspired a physical symbol: “Scabby” the rat. Since around 1989, unions have used large inflatable rats, often called “Scabby,” to protest at worksites employing non-union labor.

Absence of Teamsters President Sean O'Brien 

It's worth noting that while the UAW and several other high-profile unions have rallied behind Harris, the Teamsters Union has not endorsed her.

Teamsters President Sean O'Brien, who was a keynote speaker at the Republican National Committee convention, sought to speak at both conventions. However, he has not been invited to the DNC in Chicago, NBC Chicago reported.