+++Note: I have been ordered by my daughter to grill some bison burgers with blue cheese so I shall be a bit busy and this will be my only post today for I want to spend time with my daughter and granddaughter.+++
It is the first Monday of September and the BBQ grills will be fired up and massive amounts of beet will be consumed….but what part of that celebrates American labor….just sounds like an excuse for a party.
Instead of honoring our workers the day is dedicated to how much beer can be drunk and still make it to work tomorrow.
Some ask why September and not the International Day of the Worker, 01May?
Let’s look at a little history…..a short not long winded dissertation….
Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday of September because the Central Labor Union chose that time for its early street parades in New York City, and the date stuck.
- State Adoption: The September date proved popular. By 1884, the Knights of Labor urged other states to hold celebrations on the first Monday of September.
- Good Weather: September offered pleasant weather for outdoor parades, picnics, and speeches compared to the harsh winter or spring months.
- International Workers’ Day: Many countries around the world celebrate workers on May 1 (May Day) to commemorate the 1886 Haymarket Affair in Chicago.
- Political Distance: U.S. politicians avoided May 1 because they did not want to associate the national holiday with radical political groups, socialists, and anarchists
- National Law: President Grover Cleveland signed a law in 1894 making the first Monday in September an official federal holiday.
- Pullman Strike: This push came shortly after federal troops broke up a violent railroad strike in Chicago, leading the government to quickly appease the American workforce with a peaceful September date.
There you have a short history of the day….that is all fascinating I am sure but why can’t we wear white after Labor Day?
There are three hypotheses about the origins of the “no white after Labor Day” directive. The first theory, disagreed upon by many, is based on class distinction in the early 1900s. Although white clothing was clearly an upper class luxury, after the Civil War it became harder to distinguish women coming from old money or new money. The higher class ladies then made inane fashion rules to weed out those who were “out of place.”
The second theory speaks to a more practical approach by pointing out that Memorial Day and Labor Day bracketed the summer season, and therefore lighter, summery, white clothes were no longer needed.
The last theory has to do with popular fashion magazines, who may have begun promoting fall clothing after Labor Day, and the trend was picked up.
That was absolutely useless information….but at least it still has Labor Day feel about it.
But for more information about the real Labor Day….after all it is an important day and its history should be remembered….these two were from a decade ago….
Then a little history from my past on this Labor Day….
But if you still anxious for more information on Labor Day and its history…..
https://www.bustle.com/articles/180203-the-history-of-labor-day-is-fascinating-and-worth-remembering
I was once asked why I was a union organizer….I have always thought the workers were treated shabbily when it come of compensation for their hard work….
CEO compensation at top U.S. firms has surged by approximately 1,094% since 1978, vastly outpacing the 26% growth of typical worker pay over the same period.
- Long-Term Growth: According to data from the Economic Policy Institute, top CEO compensation grew by 1,094% from 1978 to 2024, while a typical worker’s pay grew by only 26%.
- The 1960s vs. Today: In 1965, CEOs at major U.S. companies made about 21 times the salary of a typical worker. By 2024, that ratio reached 281-to-1.
And that discrepancy is why I went into organizing.
But being in Mississippi, which hates unions, it was difficult to organize….one workplace where I was working the boss found out and threatened to fire everyone involved….and he could get away with it because Mississippi is a right to work state and the companies are protected from any attempts to unionize.
I retired from union work in 2000 but I am still in touch with the union and give my help wherever I can.
Enough for today….we are suppose to enjoy the day off and I do not want to be a downer.
I hope everyone enjoys their day off and as always….Be Well and Be Safe….
I Read, I Write, You Know
“lego ergo scribo”
One can only imagine the level to which conversations at Labor Day gatherings focus on the current unprecedented insane state of the world. With any luck, those conversations will lead to widespread effective action against those criminally responsible for the insanity. Peace.
There was plenty of opportunity for effective action against those criminally responsible for the insanity and every judge including the supreme court gave the insanity permission to expand and to endure…so forget about changes coming that will benefit the common person.