A reader reminds us:
The first Labor Day was celebrated in New York City on a Tuesday in 1882 – a couple of years later it was moved to the first Monday in September. Initially, Labor Day was a protest about dismal factory working conditions – 12 hour days and 7 days a week – just to mention a few. The early Labor Day celebrations/demonstrations did finally spark some Congressional debate on worker’s rights and in 1894 Congress passed the bill that made Labor Day a national holiday.
While Labor Day was intended to celebrate the accomplishment and productivity of the American workforce, it’s now mostly a marker for the end of summer and the start of school. However, considering the high unemployment rates and current economic conditions, this year’s Labor Day might truly be a celebration for those who do have jobs. And maybe, a time to remember the many families who are struggling to hold things together until the labor market improves – they won’t have much to celebrate on September 7th, 2009.
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5 comments:
Labor Day came about in good measure because of backing by Sen. James Kyle of South Dakota who was born in Cedarville. (Coincidentally he was my grandmother's legal guardian.)
I've often called Labor Day "the day we honor the working man by giving everyone's boss the day off". Now I'm enjoying my second Labor Day off in row, because I haven't been able to find full-time work for a year and a half. Unemployment benefits, credit cards, savings and pawn shops have allowed the tens of millions of unemployed in this depression to mostly avoid major privations so far, but that cushion is rapidly deflating. By Spring many, many people could be in very dire circumstances, in many cases people who have never experienced poverty before. Things could get ugly. Recently there have been several hold-ups in this area committed by unemployed older men desperate for money. They might be trendsetters.
This is very true, Les. I know magazines are pushing Yellow Springs as a perfect little small town to move to, but they should add, "just bring your own job with you!"
Yellow springs is a perfect little town IF you have a job nearby, yes! I so agree.
However magazines pushing our town as a perfect little town is just something that might help companies consider relocating or starting up here. We ain't going to attract them with tax incentives, that's for sure.
ps. Sorry to hear about the job situation Les :( Having experienced povery, yes, it ain't pretty and sometimes desperation can make even the most noble consider doing things they would never dreamed doing.
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