We're enjoying a very labor-friendly market, but there are many examples in certain periods where unions locked up good, well-paying jobs behind exclusionary, nepotistic, and racist membership practices.

So I would be happy to distinguish between a scab who is looking to make a quick buck and a strikebreaker who was never eligible for a union job in the first place. Depends on the context.

There's an obvious need to "use that term", given that it's in answer to a question from someone who didn't know what the slang term meant. So clear communication is one reason.

But otherwise, yeah, if you want to disagree with people by calling them derogatory names, you're right: "strikebreaker" just doesn't have the same ring to it.

Not insulting people that disagree with you and need the work is a good reason.

Even as a frenchmen, I don't think strikes are sacred.