Today is Labor Day
in America, a holiday established in 1894 by President Grover Cleveland
following the end of the bloody Pullman strike. Over the years, the holiday has morphed from a celebration of labor
(i.e., organized labor) into a
"last weekend the pool is open!" kind of celebration. In these days of
the Malignant Fascist's war on workers and unions, let's remember a few
of the things we owe organized labor:
-- the 8-hour workday/ 40-hour workweek (a.k.a., your weekend);
-- minimum wage;
-- workplace health and safety standards;
-- child labor prohibition;
-- civil rights (the UAW under Walter Reuther shone); and
-- what's left of the American middle class.
Support for labor unions has recently hovered around 70%:
It's also clear who supports working men and women in this country (something union members need to remember when they vote!):
Have a safe and happy Labor Day!
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