Blue-collar worker
From Free net encyclopedia
A blue-collar worker is a working class employee who performs manual, unskilled or semiskilled labor, such as in a factory or maintenance "trades," in contrast to a white-collar worker, who does non-manual work generally at a desk.
This term often carries a negative stereotypical connotation in American English, based on historical perspective. Originally it referred to the dress codes of workplaces. Industrial blue-collar workers formerly, and to a large extent still, wear "work clothes" with the shirts of a light or navy blue color. The clothes are more durable and may be scraped or soiled at work. The dress code may also feature protection from work-related injury, such as hard hats and heavy work boots or steel-toe boots. In contrast, white-collar workers were wearers of the traditional white, button-down shirt; they were not intended to do physical work.
"Blue-collar" is also used as an adjective to describe the environment of the "blue-collar worker": i.e., a "blue-collar" neighborhood, job, factory, restaurant, bar, etc., or a situation descriptive of use of manual effort and the strength required to do such. It can also be used as a derogatory adjective to describe something crude, simple, lacking sophistication, or appealing to basic instinct: i.e., a blue-collar joke.
Some distinctive elements of blue-collar work are the lesser requirements for formal academic education. Training is often learned on the job while working. The boss of such workers is usually called a foreman whose duty is to assign and monitor the work of his subordinates. Commonly the foreman is a manual worker himself or a "wing foreman" who in turn is subordinate to a higher boss. Another aspect of blue-collar work is the time clock used to record the precise hours that the employees work and therefore calculate their pay—which is usually based on an hourly rate and paid weekly. Generally, the hours of such occupation are strict (see shift work). But after "punching out" (a process of recording the time leaving the company at the end of the day), it is understood that the worker has no duties until the next day.
Generally, the pay for such occupation is lower than that of the white-collar counterpart, although higher than many entry-level service occupations. Sometimes the work conditions can be strenuous or hazardous.
Commonly the "blue-collar" worker will be part of a labor union which is a form of organized labor. These associations use a process of negotiation called collective bargaining to establish the rights and responsibilities of the workers, to negotiate the pay rate and benefits received. Also, there are laws and organizations that regulate safety in the workplace, associated with "blue-collar" conditions.
Meaning of Blue Collar in Sports
The term "blue collar" is often used to describe the style of play of certain American sports teams. This is especially true of American Football, where teams which emphasize a solid running game on offense, stopping the run on defense, and hard, physical blocking and tackling are labeled "blue collar" by sports writers and TV and radio football commentators. Blue collar teams do not try to trick or confuse the opposing defense. Rather, the opposing defense knows that the blue collar team will run the ball directly at them, but the blue collar team's blockers expect to simply overpower the defenders and open big holes for the running backs.
The quintessential blue collar NFL team is the Pittsburgh Steelers of the Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher eras, not only for their physical play, but also because they have traditionally had a large and loyal blue collar fan base. Another very well known blue collar team is the Chicago Bears especially of the 1980's with Walter Payton at running back and the overpowering "46" defense.
Conversely, American Football teams which emphasize a sophisticated passing attack with multiple formations are not labeled "white collar." Rather, they are called "finesse" teams. The quintessential finesse team in the NFL was the San Francisco 49ers in the eras of Joe Montana and Steve Young, which ran the West Coast Offense.
In basketball, players are described as blue collar who are not stars, but are essential to a team's success. Blue collar basketball players do not score a lot of points, but play good defense. The 2003-2004 Detroit Pistons, which won the NBA championship, were called a blue collar team because they did not have any big stars on the level of Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, or Shaquille O'Neal , but relied on defense to win.
Compare proletariat.
See also
fr:Ouvrier it:Colletto blu nl:Arbeider ja:ブルーカラー no:Blåsnipparbeider sv:Arbetare zh:藍領