dog-collar worker
(DAWG-kawl.ur wur.kur)
n.
A priest or other member of the clergy who wears a Roman collar.
Example Citation:
A union has launched its first ever pay campaign for a wage rise for vicars. The MSF wants a 50 per cent rise for "dog collar" workers to bring their wages up to GBP 24,000 a year.
—Jeremy Richards, "Pay rise plan has priest's blessing," UK Newsquest Regional Press — This is Lancashire, November 16, 2000
Earliest Citation:
Trouble with clerical staff, I'm afraid, at the MSF union, which has started a section for priests. (Yes, yes, lots of jokes about dog-collar workers, shorter sermons and free collection bargaining.)
—Charles Nevin, "Caption Moonlight," The Independent (London), September 18, 1994
Also:
A week ago Tuesday night, Channel 2 treated us to Working Girls, which could as easily have been titled A Day in the Life of a Prostitute. Three ladies, less white-collar or blue-collar than dog-collar workers, were followed through a day which, despite the profusion of detail on, if you'll pardon the expression, the tricks of the trade, was so boring it made this viewer long for that legendary documentary on accountants.
—Moshe Saperstein, "Magnificent Mason," The Jerusalem Post, January 4, 1991
