Worky

U.S. [f. WORK sb. + -Y³.] A worker or operative. Also attrib.

1833.  T. Hamilton, Men & Manners Amer. (1843), 1171. The operative class [of New York] have already formed themselves into a society, under the name of ‘The Workies.’ Ibid., 175. The Worky convention will only have to choose representatives of their own principles.

1855.  Ht. Martineau, Autobiog. (1877), II. 305. The reasons why no gentry were admitted were,… because there was no room for more than the ‘workies.’

1894.  Sunday Reform Leaflet (Columbus, Ohio), Sept., 5. Take away this rest-day, and you … turn us into a nation of mere ‘workies.’