blue-collar staff

Members of the working class, especially manual laborers. The phrase refers to the collar of a laborer's typical uniform, in contrast to the "white collar" shirts that typically accompany formal dress. You'll have a hard time retaining blue-collar staff if you keep denying them raises. I'm sorry, ma'am, but I can't help you here in the office. Blue-collar staff handle things like water leaks on the street. The CEO is a fool if he doesn't realize that the company would fall apart without its blue-collar staff!