Labor Day

Labor Day has many meanings including the ending of summer and the beginning of classes in many schools, the change of attire, the start of the football seasons and of course, the closing of federal and other businesses and corporations.

Let's probe into the background a little. Labor Day was initially inaugurated in the U.S. in 1882 by the Central Labor Union as a holiday for its workers. In 1894 in was declared a federal holiday and it has been observed on the first Monday of September ever since. It's original intent was to allow the public to appreciate the work of the trade and labor organizations but this has languished somewhat over the years.

Labor Day is celebrated elsewhere, particularly in Europe as May Day (May 1) celebrations both as an emphasis on labor as well as a celebration of Spring. Maypoles are erected, parades are held, May Queens are crowned and in Mexico, there is the Primero de Mayo, a national holiday honoring workers.

Labor Unions rise and fall along with labor with 54-hour weeks to 36-hour working periods, minimum wages, strikes and voting. Ancient wisdom encouraged (or demanded) a working six-day ideal followed by a day of rest and modernity enjoys its three-day weekends. Labor Day, like many other holidays, has enjoyed (or endured) evolutionary changes and additions.

Labor Day, if effective, is a reminder of the dignity of work, study, sports and leisure as well as an equity of wages and the ills of theft, inordinate debt, inequity, laziness and dishonesty among other maladies. An eight hour work day should mean 8 hours of work, not 5 or 6 or 12 without an approved overtime pay. Schools at all levels should be challenged to provide means to equip its citizens for the labor market and labor bosses would do well to use the highest digression with its influence.

Personally, I started my earning power with a magazine route netting me up to fifteen cents in a good week. From there it went to a paper route, and then a grass-mowing job for an older friend who was drafted in WW2. Then to a half-day job in a factory. For a year in college I made candy (Swedish mints polka grisar), gave piano lessons to kids, and even baby sat, ran a school bus and later a city bus (in Chicago believe it or not).

For me, labor is important, vital and should not be overlooked or ignored but valued.