For most of my early life I considered Labor Day little more than a day off at the end of summer. That’s because I am not a union man. I have never belonged to a union, nor has anyone in my family. So what has the labor movement done for me? I have learned what organized labor has done to improve the lot of all American Workers, and I have come to understand that Labor Day is a celebration of Union labor, and one that is well deserved.
This is a minor variation on last year’s article. I found no reason to change it.
ThinkProgress has assembled just five of the many things that Americans can thank the nation’s unions for giving us all:
1. Unions Gave Us The Weekend: Even the ultra-conservative Mises Institute notes that the relatively labor-free 1870, the average workweek for most Americans was 61 hours — almost double what most Americans work now…
2. Unions Gave Us Fair Wages And Relative Income Equality: As ThinkProgress reported earlier in the week, the relative decline of unions over the past 35 years has mirrored a decline in the middle class’s share of national income…
3. Unions Helped End Child Labor: “Union organizing and child labor reform were often intertwined” in U.S. history, with organization’s like the “National Consumers’ League” and the National Child Labor Committee” working together in the early 20th century to ban child labor…
4. Unions Won Widespread Employer-Based Health Coverage: “The rise of unions in the 1930′s and 1940′s led to the first great expansion of health care” for all Americans, as labor unions banded workers together to negotiate for health coverage plans from employers…
5. Unions Spearheaded The Fight For The Family And Medical Leave Act: Labor unions like the AFL-CIO federation led the fight for this 1993 law, which “requires state agencies and private employers with more than 50 employees to provide up to 12 weeks of job-protected unpaid leave annually for workers to care for a newborn, newly adopted child, seriously ill family member or for the worker’s own illness.”
… [emphasis original]
Inserted from <Think Progress>
It’s well worth the time to click through for the rest of this article.
Furthermore, here is an excellent video on what labor has done for America.
Therefore, to begin my celebration of Labor Day in the best possible way, I wish to thank all of you who are or have been union workers. My life is better because of you. And to you and everyone else, have a Happy Labor Day!
Support Labor! Dump Trump!
RESIST THE REPUBLICAN REICH!!
8 Responses to “Celebrating Labor Day!”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Yes indeed. Of course, Republicans hate unions exactly BECAUSE organized workers are more successful and more knowledgeable than non-union workers. Even on matters you might not think are related to their work. Do not forget it was National Nurses United whose efforts brought the proposed Robin Hood Tax to national attention.
“If you work all the time and never really take a vacation, start a new ritual that honors the original spirit of Labor Day. Give yourself the day off. Don’t go in to work. Shut off your phone, computer and other electronic devices connecting you to your daily grind. Then go to a barbecue, like the original participants did over a century ago, and celebrate having at least one day off from work during the year!”*the conversation
Thanks, Tom for post.
Great article celebrating the work of unions, TomCat. Many countries celebrate Labor Day (on different dates though) for exactly the same reasons: the important work unions have done for the rights and the general health and safety of the working man and woman, with the 8 hour working day being one of the most important accomplishments. Sadly with solidarity leaking away from society everywhere, unions have a much harder time accomplishing things for their dwindling membership.
Happy Labor Day to all who celebrate it today.
The United Mine Workers of America are the reason I was able to go to college. If my Dad had not been in the union, he would not have been able to help me at all. We were never wealthy, but we always had a home and plenty of food.
I was never in a union. But when there was union organising in the banking sector, I was classified as exempt and held accountable if the union was certified in my branch. Later on, I was a temporary branch manager in a union branch (the only one in BC to still operate at the time) and had to go toe to toe with the shop steward over her absence. It was not fun. But if everybody acts with respect and fairness, things can work well.
Having said that, I saw the positives in my stepfather’s situation. He worked for a larger pulp and paper company with dangerous machinery and in miserable conditions at times. It was the union that pushed for some safety upgrades. Yes there a lot of things for which to be thankful.
Happy Labour Day!!!
Unions helped create the American middle class, and that is why the Retags have been fighting it. Also, unions help fund Democratic candidates…so, it all, once again, comes down to money and greed!
Thanks all. Exhausted Hugs!
What have unions done for us? For Example:
Outlaw child labor.
The 8 Hour Workday.
Health plans & sick leave.
Maternity leave.
Weekends.
Vacation time.
Social Security & Medicare.
Unions helped USA to become the most powerful and productive nation on earth.
.