My understanding of a scab is someone who crosses the picket line while a strike is going on. But I have a lot of questions I was hoping to clear up.

1. What if a pilot or flight attendant crosses a mechanics picket line (ie what might happen at NWA) are you a scab then?

2. What if a company's pilots (just for instance say Alsaka air) go on strike, and then Alaska hires replacements:
- Are the replacements scabs?
- will the replacements keep their jobs,when the strike is over, and if so
will they be treated nice?

3. Is there ever a time your peers will understand crossing the line? ie... you're about to loose your house, or your kid gets cancer and you need the money to pay for treatment... or any extreme case like that?

4. While on strike, does your company still provide all your insurances and other benefits, or are you temporarily at a loss for all those?

5. While on strike, what does your union provide you? Medical, pay, anything?

And finally is there one definition of a scab, or is it a term that everyone uses, but its based on an individuals thoughts and beliefs?

Just some questions I have... I really started thinking about it now that a bunch of my ex military buddies are now in the airlines, and I keep hearing all sorts of labor disputes and stike threats... hope someone will clear this up for my mind.

Thanks all