Red card
Red card turns up in 2 fields: shop slang, fire & safety. Here is what it means to the people in each one.
Red card in shop slang
A union membership card, traditionally associated with the Industrial Workers of the World.
A physical membership card carried by active union members, particularly those belonging to the Industrial Workers of the World. On the shop floor, carrying one signifies a worker's commitment to organized labor and collective bargaining. It is often checked by shop stewards to ensure everyone on a closed-shop site is in good standing.
"Check with the steward before you start your shift, he's going to want to see your red card."
Red card in fire & safety
An incident qualification card for wildland firefighters.
An incident qualification card, universally called a red card, verifies that a wildland firefighter has passed the required physical fitness tests and completed the necessary training for specific roles. It lists the individual's qualifications, such as firefighter, crew boss, or faller, and must be carried on wildland deployments to prove eligibility for the assignment.
"You can't get on the crew manifest until the training officer updates your red card."