Image from: http://cognidissidence.blogspot.com/2010/09/happy-labor-day.html
Labor Day is a time when people kick back and relax, and enjoy a day off. For some, it will be a parade, candy, yelling, people having a good time. And those public sector workers will be taking their hand out candy and saying it’s not nice enough because it’s generic. Well not really, but that’s what Fox News would like you to think. But before you go off waving your “Scott Walker for President” sign, remember this. You will only look foolish. Because as you are enjoying this day off, you might want to realize those unions that you’ve been fighting against gave you this very day off. But to understand we must dig deeper into a territory all too many have forgot and a territory Koch Industries would love to call USA again.
It all started back in the early 1800′s. The rich got richer and the poor stayed poor. Companies would hire children as early as 8, probably even younger. There was no minimum wage and employees didn’t even need to be paid in cash, they could pay in vouchers you could only spend with them. It was widespread and organized manslaughter. People could be tried with a criminal offense or potentially even killed for simply asking for better working conditions (like maybe conditions where you could kiss your wife goodbye and feel confident you’ll be able to greet her by coming home later in the day). It was a crime to try to unionize. In the mid 1800′s laborers started to band together and organize to fight for better conditions. This began the first unions.
Unions started to get stronger and people kept losing lives. Eventually the workers comprised of such a strong force they could no longer operate without them and the unions prevailed. People had better working conditions and throughout history following, the unions have been the only thing scaring them enough from lowering working conditions once again. They serve as a protection. I am not unionized, nor have I ever been, but I have benefitted from 40 hour work weeks or overtime, safe working conditions, minimum wage, FMLA, the list goes on and on. But the first Labor Day was actually celebrated on September 5, 1882 in New York City by the Central Labor Union to celebrate the battles won thus far. It was celebrated every year thereafter. Labor day itself, as a celebration, was started by the unions. So enjoy the day off brought to you by the very people some call the enemy!
Jeremy Ryan
Executive Director
Defending Wisconsin PAC
jryan@defendingwisconsin.org
Note: Segway Jeremy Ryan has become a full-time member of the protests at the Wisconsin State Capitol. Formerly a businessman, he gave up his business to join the fight for the middle class in the State of Wisconsin. Through videos and writings he has informed hundreds of thousands of people of what was going on at the Wisconsin State Capitol once the mainstream media had mostly abandoned the protests. His full-time activism is completely funded by the people. If you would like to help out please click here.
