Arbeiderne

Arbeiderne is a term used in Norwegian to mean "the workers." It can refer to the working class as a social group or to a specific group of organized workers. The definite plural form arbeiderne is common in literature, journalism, and political discourse.

Historically, the term gained prominence in the context of industrialization and the rise of organized labor. In Norway, the late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the growth of the workers’ movement, the formation of trade unions, and the emergence of political parties focused on labor interests, including what would become the Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet). The word arbeiderne appears in newspapers, pamphlets, and social reports to denote wage earners and industrial workers collectively, rather than a single group.

In contemporary usage, arbeiderne continues to denote workers in general and is common in discussions of labor rights, wages, and class relations. In academic writing, the term is used to analyze working-class identity, occupational structure, and labor history. It also intersects with related concepts such as the working class, the labor movement, and trade unionism.

See also:

- Working class

- Trade union

- Labour movement

- Arbeiderpartiet

- Landsorganisasjonen i Norge (LO)