wage claim

1 3.4

An official request by workers for higher pay

noun
/weɪdʒ kleɪm/

Formal

: reclamación salarial

There are probably fewer public demonstrations, fewer bombings, fewer assassinations, fewer strikes, and more moderate wage claims than during the 1970s.

Examples

After months of discussions, the union finally filed a wage claim on behalf of the employees demanding higher salaries.
Legal aid groups often help workers with wage claims.

Blog text (20)
The workers presented a formal wage claim to their employer for a pay increase during the negotiations.
In response to the economic situation, many laborers decided to submit a wage claim for better compensation.

Synonyms

claim

vswage claim

431 2.6

A request for money or help because you believe you have a right to it

is the specific official worker request for higher salary rather than a general right

pay claim

vswage claim

Jargon

4.4

A formal request by workers, usually through their union, for higher pay

is the official union request used in negotiations

Antonyms

refusal

122 1.4

An act of saying you will not accept or agree to something

pay cut

31 2.8

A reduction in the money a worker receives from their job

How Serious

lawsuit

719 4.8

job action

Specialized

1 5.7

wage claim

Formal

1 3.4

complaint

564 1.4

request

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

wage claim singular

wage claims plural

Morphology

wage + claim

The meaning is directly compositional: 'wage' (payment) + 'claim' (formal demand) yields a formal demand concerning pay. This follows a common noun–noun compounding pattern and would be readily understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituent words.

Etymology

The compound wage claim comes from the simple idea of wage meaning the money you earn and claim meaning a formal demand. When workers officially ask their employer for more pay, they make a wage claim, so the phrase means 'an official request for higher pay'.