Some Labor Day Thoughts
The first Monday in September in the US is a nationally recognized holiday, called Labor Day. Here's what it means to Americans:
A bit of history, but not too much:
By the late 19th century, industrialists and millionaires wielded near absolute power over their laborers (12 hour days, child labor, hazardous work conditions, etc.). But about this time, worldwide, protests by laborers were spontaneously erupting in industrialized countries (as well as by serfs in Russia). Those in power labeled these demonstrators as "anarchists" ("Cimbri et Teutones" to the ancient Romans; "terrorists" to the modern ear). Demonstrators were often simply shot.
Unions of laborers were formed within most trades and industries. During labor union strikes, strikers were often simply shot.
From the back page of the New York Times, 1882. (Note the cigars!)
As an attempt to quell the unrest, most industrialized countries declared an annual celebration of laborers, which was and still is generally known as May Day. The Czar of Russia didn't handle all this quite as gracefully, and he was simply shot, replaced by a Communist (laborers) government.
In the US, labor demonstrations associated with the first day of May had a nasty reputation for being particularly violent. So when the US government decided to do the National Celebration of Labor thing, President Grover Cleveland declared the first Monday in September to be a national holiday, to be called Labor Day.
It wasn't until President Theodore Roosevelt began breaking up industrial monopolies that workers' pay and work conditions truly began to improve.
The basic thrust of Labor Day is a recognition that the elite are answerable to those who actually do all the labor.
In the realm of tobacco, tobacco factory workers were among the first to unionize. But in tobacco farming, nothing changed from the early 19th century. Up until the virtual collapse of industrial tobacco in the US, in the late 20th and early 21st century, tobacco growers continued to be at the mercy of arbitrary contract alterations, and arbitrary price adjustments. "Keep them poor, but keep them growing!" Tobacco growers never successfully unionized. No Labor Day for you.
While you're pondering these weighty issues, toss another brat on the grill for me.
Bob
The first Monday in September in the US is a nationally recognized holiday, called Labor Day. Here's what it means to Americans:
- backyard barbecue
- long weekend off
- banks closed
- special sales at stores and on-line
- time with family
- unofficial "end" of summer
- last weekend that public swimming pools are open
A bit of history, but not too much:
By the late 19th century, industrialists and millionaires wielded near absolute power over their laborers (12 hour days, child labor, hazardous work conditions, etc.). But about this time, worldwide, protests by laborers were spontaneously erupting in industrialized countries (as well as by serfs in Russia). Those in power labeled these demonstrators as "anarchists" ("Cimbri et Teutones" to the ancient Romans; "terrorists" to the modern ear). Demonstrators were often simply shot.
Unions of laborers were formed within most trades and industries. During labor union strikes, strikers were often simply shot.
From the back page of the New York Times, 1882. (Note the cigars!)
As an attempt to quell the unrest, most industrialized countries declared an annual celebration of laborers, which was and still is generally known as May Day. The Czar of Russia didn't handle all this quite as gracefully, and he was simply shot, replaced by a Communist (laborers) government.
In the US, labor demonstrations associated with the first day of May had a nasty reputation for being particularly violent. So when the US government decided to do the National Celebration of Labor thing, President Grover Cleveland declared the first Monday in September to be a national holiday, to be called Labor Day.
It wasn't until President Theodore Roosevelt began breaking up industrial monopolies that workers' pay and work conditions truly began to improve.
The basic thrust of Labor Day is a recognition that the elite are answerable to those who actually do all the labor.
In the realm of tobacco, tobacco factory workers were among the first to unionize. But in tobacco farming, nothing changed from the early 19th century. Up until the virtual collapse of industrial tobacco in the US, in the late 20th and early 21st century, tobacco growers continued to be at the mercy of arbitrary contract alterations, and arbitrary price adjustments. "Keep them poor, but keep them growing!" Tobacco growers never successfully unionized. No Labor Day for you.
While you're pondering these weighty issues, toss another brat on the grill for me.
Bob
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