Happy Labor Day…Do you really know what Labor Day is truly about?

Here is a little history  about Labor Day, In 1882, Matthew Maguire, a machinist, first proposed the holiday while serving as secretary of the CLU (Central Labor Union) of New York. Others argue that it was first proposed by Peter J. McGuire of the American Federation of Labor in May 1882, after witnessing the annual Labor festival held in Canada. Oregon was the first state to make it a holiday on February 21, 1887. By the time it became a federal holiday in 1894, thirty states officially celebrated Labor Day.

Following the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the Pullman Strike, the United States Congress unanimously voted to approve rush legislation that made Labor Day a national holiday; President Grover Cleveland signed it into law a mere six days after the end of the strike. The September date originally chosen by the CLU of New York and observed by many of the nation's trade unions for the past several years was selected rather than the more widespread International Workers' Day because Cleveland was concerned that observance of the latter would be associated with the nascent Communist, Syndicalism and Anarchist movements that, though distinct from one another, had rallied to commemorate the Haymarket Affair in International Workers' Day. All U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and the territories have made it a statutory holiday. (American History II college text)

As we debate how to add jobs, I think everyone is talking around an important fact. The economic success of our world competition is based on low wages and an acceptance of a large portion of their societies living in a type of poverty that is unimaginable to our citizens. Exporting such jobs is not a bad thing.

Are we willing to accept that condition here? There is no possibility that the cost of health, food, housing and transportation will lower to meet the needs of a lower paid workforce. Many in the current debate claim there could be full employment if we end the minimum wage. I’m sure every company would love a $2-per-hour workforce.  And others want to end union wages and benefits. But who would feed and house these people working for $2-per-hour. Will the companies warehouse their own employees? Will we return to the days of the company store and the company doctor?

And there is a debate about doing away with government regulations because some say regulations stop job growth. But maybe those regulations protect workers by providing a safe work place? Our country and government will prosper with a well-paid middle class. Let’s try to get back to that. Well-paid people buy more things, and this creates more jobs.

I wrote last week about the legislation that might be place on the Missouri ballot for “Right-to-Work”. Remember, while you are holding your Bar-B-Q and enjoying that well deserved day off what organized labor has done for the common man union and non-union alike. 1.) Unions fought and won the fight for a 40 hour work week and if you go over those 40 hours you are paid overtime/time and a half, 2.) Unions help create Child Labor Laws, and 3.) Unions demanded and received healthier and cleaner work places.  We have a lot to thank organized labor for rights we enjoy as both member and non-members of unions. I would like say have a happy and safe Labor Day with your friends and families you deserve it and if you see a member of any AFL-CIO union say a big THANK YOU for what they have done to help make our lives better. To my friends in Organized Labor, I say on behalf of my family and from a grandson of both a AFL-CIO local president in the shoe factory in Chaffee, Missouri in the 1950’s, another grandfather a member of the Carpenters union local in Cape Girardeau, and my father who was a member of the Teamsters local 600. I say, THANK YOU.