Labor Day in the US is only a few weeks away, marking the end of summer. For me, the day is much more important than just a holiday; it is why it's a holiday that is special. Back before organized labor was castrated by Ronald Reagan, working men and women in America had a voice in government that was heard and often heeded by lawmakers, but that is no more. Organized Labor pushed the legislators into creating a special day to celebrate the accomplishments of workers, whether they toiled in a factory, on a farm, on construction, in an office, or in any place where a person traded his time and ability for a paycheck. People actually had a say in how their lives were run while trying to make a living. With that power no longer in the hands of the workforce, big business was allowed to do as they wish, and that is a big part of why we are in this economic mess.
Would you like to have your 10 year old child or grandchild working beside you in a factory or mill 10 hours per day and six days a week for $1.00 each day? It was like that in the US until the labor movement put a stop to it. There were no "break times", and they were allowed a few unpaid minutes to eat a meal ... if they had one. If so, it was usually a biscuit or a piece of fruit brought from home. Even toilet time was deducted from their pay. They worked over and around machinery that would maim or kill them if they became a bit careless, and it they were hurt on the job, well, that was just tough luck. We know it isn't like that now, and is only a little of how having a voice in the way we live our lives at work has changed our nation for the good.
Big unions have done some bad deeds, and like a lot of things, the bad is accentuated in the press and the good things often overlooked. The American labor movement was once the standard of the world. It even helped end the Cold War by empowering workers like Lech Wałęsa of Poland to create the first labor union in Soviet controlled Eastern Europe. It was the beginning of the end of the Soviet era and the rise of hope for millions of people. American labor helped define the working conditions in France, Germany, Italy, and other countries, including our northern neighbor, Canada. We then empowered a bad president to take it all away from us because he said it was the thing to do. These other nations are now coming out of this recession, and we in the US have yet to reach the bottom ... if there is one.
This nation was built by the hands and pride of hard working people. When September 7 rolls around, please take a moment from you day and remember them.
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The Smoking Gun's Mugshots of the Week!
Would you like to have your 10 year old child or grandchild working beside you in a factory or mill 10 hours per day and six days a week for $1.00 each day? It was like that in the US until the labor movement put a stop to it. There were no "break times", and they were allowed a few unpaid minutes to eat a meal ... if they had one. If so, it was usually a biscuit or a piece of fruit brought from home. Even toilet time was deducted from their pay. They worked over and around machinery that would maim or kill them if they became a bit careless, and it they were hurt on the job, well, that was just tough luck. We know it isn't like that now, and is only a little of how having a voice in the way we live our lives at work has changed our nation for the good.
Big unions have done some bad deeds, and like a lot of things, the bad is accentuated in the press and the good things often overlooked. The American labor movement was once the standard of the world. It even helped end the Cold War by empowering workers like Lech Wałęsa of Poland to create the first labor union in Soviet controlled Eastern Europe. It was the beginning of the end of the Soviet era and the rise of hope for millions of people. American labor helped define the working conditions in France, Germany, Italy, and other countries, including our northern neighbor, Canada. We then empowered a bad president to take it all away from us because he said it was the thing to do. These other nations are now coming out of this recession, and we in the US have yet to reach the bottom ... if there is one.
This nation was built by the hands and pride of hard working people. When September 7 rolls around, please take a moment from you day and remember them.
----
The Smoking Gun's Mugshots of the Week!
4 comments:
I did not know that there is Labor Day in the US. Interesting. You are right, Wałęsa and first social movement "Solidarity" caused many changes in the Eastern Europe. We (Poles) showed other countries (Czechoslovakia, Hungary, East Germany) that they could also make their revolutions without using force (there was violence only in Romania, they killed their dictatorship in really cruel way).
In my opinion (I and D. are travelling there a lot) Poland is still a leader of the different changes in this part of Europe. Well, we work really hard and efficiently. Polish politicians know very well that for us – voters – the most important are their good economic suggestions. We hated Soviet rules (it was against our best values and traditions) and now we love our freedom and independence.
In past children in Poland also worked hard. Of course it passed. Children are our big treasure. My friend from Israel likes to repeat: Polish polite, well-behaved children.
I do not know American children, nevertheless I am sure that they are polite and well-behaved too.
Our Labor Day is on 1st of May.
Hugs, my friend. Have wonderful Sunday. :-)
We have had Labor Day here since 1882. The larger cities (and some small ones) still have parades and picnics to honor the workers and their families.
Polish people have a right to be proud of their accomplishments over the ages. A Polish-American man once told me that his people (Poles) are the hardest working people in all of Europe, and the smartest. I believe him.
Children here (for the most part) are very impolite. Hasn't always been like that. It is something I want to write about in my blog.
A Sunday hug for you, my friend.
It bothers me that Labor Day has become a meaningless holiday at this point in our history.
Unfortunately many unions brought on the demise of unions by forgetting what they were all about.
And I agree Lech Walesa was the man. A key figure in history.
Big Unions became too much like Big Business; they just did not have the monetary clout of business.
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