Labor Day: A salute to the American worker
Labor Day is this Monday, and we all know what that means.
Three-day weekend! Time to cap off the summer with a family getaway, a cookout with friends, a Sox game, a good book, etc., etc. Whatever works. Just take a break from labor. And enjoy yourself.
Nothing wrong with that. But, as we’re all enjoying the holiday, here’s a challenge: Let’s offer a salute to what the holiday is all about and who it’s dedicated to – the workingman himself.
The holiday originated in Canada in the 1870s, sparked by labor disputes that resulted in a trade union act legalizing and protecting union activity in the Great White North. New York City celebrated the first Labor Day in 1882. Several states, including Massachusetts, adopted the holiday in subsequent years, and in 1894 President Grover Cleveland pushed through a measure to make it a national holiday.
This weekend raise a glass to the union brothers who fought for workers rights in the late 19th century, and to Grover Cleveland for having the foresight to honor working people nationwide.
While you’re securing hamburgers into buns, remember the 30,000 textile workers in Lawrence, Mass., who conducted what came to be known as the “Bread and Roses Strike” in 1912. Conditions were harsh, and pay was low, in early 20th century mills, and these workers’ actions spurred reforms. The city of Lawrence itself honors these workers’ memory with a “Bread and Roses Festival” on the Labor Day holiday.
Working conditions have improved measurably over the years, but 2009 has brought pain to the American work force in the form of layoffs, pay cuts, the elimination of benefits and general uncertainty about job stability. The US jobless rate is up to 9.4 percent, with 14.5 million people unemployed. Manufacturing job totals continue to erode. And, close to our hearts in PR, workers in the media sector have faced a major upheaval, with newspapers across the nation shutting down (Seattle Post-Intelligencer) or cutting back significantly on staff (The Boston Globe).
So, this weekend, enjoy – but do take a minute to raise a toast to American workers, past and present. This holiday’s for us.
Tags: Bread and Roses, jobless rate, Labor Day, New York