Populism is simply a political strategy where you appeal to the 'common voter.' It is neither good nor bad.
Pro-Union efforts are populist. So are most socialist movements.
The Nazis also ran on a populist campaign. As is Trump right now.
Stating a movement is populist is an in-the-moment observation. I would argue that trying to sort 'true populists' who are actually trying to help their supporter base from 'faux-populists' fundamentally misuses the term, which is simply noting who the politician is trying to appeal to.