Integrating Career Awareness into the
ABE & ESOL Classroom
Workers’ Rights Vocabulary
favoritism
treating some people better than others or being unfair to some
people
minority
a person from a group that is less than half (or 50%) of the total
population
contract
written agreement between a labor union and a company
or employer
guarantee
to make sure
laid-off
had a job end. Lay-offs are often due to not enough work, or
workers only being needed during a season of the year (for
example, farm work). Some lay-offs are short.
fired
removed from a job
strike
workers disagree with the company and stop work
picket
a line of workers with outside a workplace. A picket line brings
attention to the disagreement with the company and discourages
other workers from working.
union
an organization that represents and protects workers
rights
things the law guarantees you
grievance
a written complaint
bargain collectively
negotiate as a group
leave
time away from work (like vacations, holidays, sick days, or
maternity leave)
Workers’ Rights Vocabulary • Section III: Occupational Exploration, Lesson 6 • Page 1