If you are reading this on a paid holiday, thank a union

[Wickerman]

If today is normally a work day, but you get paid time off and are still sitting around in your shorts why you cruise DU, thank a union.

Here's an interesting timelime of labor:
http://www.aflcio.org/aboutaflcio/history/history/timeline.cfm

http://info.detnews.com/history/story/index.cfm?id=150&category=business
The Detroit News
History has almost forgotten Peter McGuire, an Irish-American cabinet maker and pioneer unionist who proposed a day dedicated to all who labor. Old records describe him as a red-headed, fiery, eloquent leader of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners.
McGuire introduced his idea formally at a meeting of the Central Labor Union on May 18,1882. "Let us have, a festive day during which a parade through the streets of the city would permit public tribute to American Industry," he said.

--snip--

Twelve years later, on June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland, long a foe of organized labor, but under voter pressure, signed a Labor Day holiday bill. Earlier that same year, President Cleveland's most famous labor conflict, the Pullman strike in Chicago, had forced the president to call up federal troops.

--snip--

If you have every day off and want to be working, bless you, and vote the Democratic ticket on Nov 2nd.

[the Kelly Gang]

1. just a day ? thank the unions for your whole lifestyle

[Catch22Dem]

2. Hey, good post

I'll remind my freeper co-workers tomorrow.

[Maestro]

3. Thank you!!!!

[in_cog_ni_to]

4. Thank a LIBERAL for your UNION!

Thank a LIBERAL for your "right" to organize. Thank a LIBERAL for your overtime pay...(use to be :() Thank a LIBERAL for the 40 hour work week. Thank a LIBERAL for the health care through your work.

Why are we so hated? We should be LOVED by all. :grr:

[Sporadicus]

5. Well Spoken, Brother!

American workers have grown complacent since the years when labor unions fought for and won basic rights for ALL workers - unionized or not. I feel labor may be on the cusp of a revival in the face of outsourcing, revision of overtime law, and other assaults on the workforce. The worker must consider organizing or slipping toward economic slavery.

[Kanary]

6. I've been thinking I wish for a REAL Labor Day celebration

thought I'd read some Eugene Debs today, but your readings are great.

Thanks for the post....... wish we were hearing this at a HUGE RALLY!

Kanary

[blueknight]

7. i ve been in a union all my life

since i started working at 18. now, because of my union i am having a good life as is my family. people that talk about unions "being bad" either have never been in a good one. or are just jealous and are freepers in denial!

[AnnInLa]

8. Thank you Pipeliners Local #798 out of Tulsa and

thank you National Education Association for giving the Vermilion Parish School Board (Louisiana) employees assistance in the strike of 1988, thereby winning the right to COLLECTIVLY BARGAIN our work contract.

[mailman82]

9. 25 year mail carrier

You are welcome and Thank you!

[Ernesto]

13. "Unions are a detrimate to the economy"

A quote from the pretender in our whitehouse............ Welcome aboard mB2!

[Kanary]

10. Excellent readings by Howard Zinn on DemocracyNOW!

Alfre Woodard reading from Mother Jones right now, reading from IWW previously..... great stuff!

Kanary

[BiggJawn]

11. Big shout-out to all my AFL-CIO Homees in tha house!

As I sit here without even the shorts cruising DU, sipping coffee, thinking about what to grill for dinner tonight.

Paid holidays. Paid vacation time off. a 40-hour workweek, with overtime pay (I dodged the bullet, for now) Paid sick days, a grievance process.

Funny, all the same stuff the Dildo-Heads enjoy, but they think they enjoy it because their employers are decent "Compassionate Conservatives" who believe in Fair Play....The fact that Union members fought (and DIED) for these perks is totally lost on them. They believe the Limp-balls bullshit about "Benevolent Capital"...

[librechik]

12. thank you Union Movement!

I got a paid holiday today. My husband is a member pf the Bakery and Confectioners Union (AFL-CIO) He has to work, (hard, physical work) but on the last 4 hours of his 12 hour shift, he makes $40/hr. Not the fairest compensation for such egregious labor, but Bush would like to take that away from some of us!

[Kenneth ken]

14. something to do besides thanking a union

try to make today a boycott of all businesses.

Many businesses are open, and are requiring their non-union workforce to work. But the upper-level management won't be working.

Boycott business on all "holidays" so that they make $0.00 while having to pay salaries. If they continuously lose money on "holidays" they will eventually decide it isn't worth being open, and even more people can celebrate the day, rather than having to work through it.

[Kanary]

16. Good point! Thanks!

[annabanana]

15. They think that there's always been a "weekend".............

When it was up to the employers it was "Show up Sunday, or don't show up Monday". The BENEVOLENT ones gave you an hour off to go to Church. Alas for all working people as we slide back in time!

[Vox_Reason]

17. This is what today is about

Excellent stuff! Thanks for passing it along on this important day.

No question about it--without unions, America would look quite different than it does today. We should never take their legacy for granted.

[greblc]

18. Thank you Unions & Members

Remember those that have died in the Labor Struggle.