What's with Labor day?

How very strange that in the home of capitalism that many Americans will take a day off to celebrate organised labor.

This is something you would expect in a more socialist country such as France?

And this has been a public holiday since 1894, so how many Americans will understand what Labor day is honouring rather than just a day off?


And I have used the US spelling rather than the English!

reply to post by Freedom ERP

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

USDol

It does appear to subversively have it's roots in something of a Socialist Movement, but if the U.S. has learned nothing over the past few months, it's that you can fight the Unions..

Look at GM.. They would rather see the company go under than give concessions...

But what the heck, it's a day off with pay.. (Well not for me, I have to work that day)

Semper

oops.

nvm.



[edit on 6/9/2009 by gravykraken]

reply to post by semperfortis


Thanks for the further details on Labor day. Still, I find it very odd that in the home of making serious money, Americans still have a public holiday to celebrate organised labour when US big business has done every thing legal and some illegal things to destroy organised labour.

Or is it now that Americans just see a day off?

reply to post by Freedom ERP

As with all holiday's, it is now merely a day off work or school.

Not many Americans know or care that millions of Americans took their last breath in some far off corner of hell so they could have their BBQs on the beach and down some beer on Memorial Day.

a day off? wow , where do you work... i wish a extra day off.. but not me i'll be working.. oh well Holliday pay.

reply to post by Freedom ERP


Labour Day in New Zealand is in mid October . Honestly I don't know anyone who doesn't treat it as anything other then as a long weekend where someone may choose to go away for a short break .

reply to post by ChrisF231


I am not religious so while I appreciate Xmas and Easter for catching up with family those Public Holidays are meaningless to me . ANZAC Day is the Public Holiday that means the most to me . Crowds at ANZAC day ceremony's are increasing .

For most of us, Labor Day means backyard barbecues, weekend sales, and a last carefree day before school starts. But the laid-back holiday has some seriously sad history, including chaos, riots, and even death. Let us explain.

A tragic tale
Back in the days of the Industrial Revolution, workers were expected to put in 12-hour days, seven days a week (yes, including kids). Already sounds awful, right? It gets worse. In Pullman, Illinois, a company town that employed and housed workers to build posh railway cars, times had gotten tough. In response, George Pullman cut jobs and wages. It was 1893. Thousands of workers walked off their jobs in protest, demanding higher salaries and lower rents. Other unions joined, refusing to work the Pullman cars, turning the small-town fracas into a national fury.

With mail cars backing up, and riots worrying train execs, President Grover Cleveland stepped in. He declared the strike illegal and sent 12,000 troops to break the strike. Cue brutal protests and bloodshed. The strike was broken, but so was the spirit of the workers. To reach out to the labor movement, Congress rushed the national holiday into law. The bad will resulted in Cleveland losing re-election. But the day off for hot dogs endures.

When is it?
Labor Day falls on the first Monday of September. This year, that would be Monday, September 7. According to the Department of Labor, Congress passed an act in 1894 making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday.

So, working stiffs everywhere, say it now, with feeling: Happy Labor Day.

Source

[edit on 7-9-2009 by DaddyBare]