That makes sense.

Maybe unskilled workas can call each other that, if they don't use the hard 'r'?

Okay, okay, "labour isn't as bad as slavery" and it's "inappropriate to joke about that on the internet."

But yes, maybe the term is demeaning; and maybe it doesn't need to be. I suppose in the end the point is we should value those labourers and their work, even though economically they're easier to mistreat and belittle.