Labor Day

[BlueStreak]

On this day we reflect and celebrate the American Worker. Here is a little info about the holiday and its origins.

http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/laborday.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_Day

Haymarket Affair;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haymarket_affair

Pullman Strike;

http://encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/1029.html

Lawrence Textile;

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAlawrence.htm

Mine Wars;

http://www.wvculture.org/history/minewars.html

http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5737/

Homestead Riot;

https://woodward8.wikispaces.com/Homestead+riot

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/carnegie/sfeature/mh_horror.html

As a kid growing up in the Youngstown area in the '60s and '70s, I knew some of the men involved in the Little Steel Strike of 1937, also known as the Memorial Day Massacre;

http://www.mahoninghistory.org/wdyk35-steel.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WV2q0k-uxU

http://www.illinoislaborhistory.org/articles/267-massacre-at-republic-steel.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day_massacre_of_1937

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Q3RUGLfFv0

There is TONS of history on this subject. The labor movement was long and often violent. And NO, it wasn't always "union sponsored violence", that is a distortion of history, foisted upon us by powerful interests with an agenda.

At any rate, I hope you find the links I've provided interesting and informative.

Dave

[bobabode]

Thanks Dave. Have a great Labor Day, too! It's a shame that so much history and sacrifice goes unnoticed these days.

[BlueStreak]

Yep, it sure is, Bob. I've even heard the laughable comment that Labor Day has nothing to do with labor unions. That it was started by appreciative employers. Can you believe that?

The depth and effectiveness of the lie is amazing, isn't it?

You enjoy your holiday too, Bob!

Dave

[finnbow]

Might it have a greater impact if it were on 1 May, as it is everywhere else in the world?

[BlueStreak]

Could be. Although I tend to think the anti-labor factions would then paint it as a Soviet (Communist) holiday.

[finnbow]

Could be. Although I tend to think the anti-labor factions would then paint it as a Soviet (Communist) holiday.

That is, of course, the answer to my rhetorical question.

[BlueStreak]

That is, of course, the answer to my rhetorical question.

Yeah, I know. I am painfully aware of the games they play.

Dave

[bobabode]

Read this in the WaPo today.
"Why the right to form a union should be a civil right"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-the-right-to-form-a-union-should-be-a-civil-right/2012/08/31/1a91e7fc-f302-11e1-a612-3cfc842a6d89_story.html?hpid=z3

[finnbow]

Read this in the WaPo today.
"Why the right to form a union should be a civil right"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-the-right-to-form-a-union-should-be-a-civil-right/2012/08/31/1a91e7fc-f302-11e1-a612-3cfc842a6d89_story.html?hpid=z3

I'm OK with private sector unions, not so much with public sector unions.

[BlueStreak]

Read this in the WaPo today.
"Why the right to form a union should be a civil right"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-the-right-to-form-a-union-should-be-a-civil-right/2012/08/31/1a91e7fc-f302-11e1-a612-3cfc842a6d89_story.html?hpid=z3

Interesting article and I believe the issue is not a new one. I believe at one point in the New Deal era, it was proposed that freedom to form a union be gauranteed as a constitutional right. But, there was insufficient support to warrant a constitutional amendment. There hasn't been since, and I doubt there ever will be. Although I, personally, would support it.

As with other things, I believe it's a question of balance. Organized labor run amuck is not good a good thing. Organized labor completely eviscerated is just as bad. Not just for the workers but for the nation as a whole, as I believe future generations will surely discover.

I've said it before; We've already been there, I see no reason why the past couldn't revisit us. Basic human nature has not changed.

Dave

[BlueStreak]

Video of Memorial Day Massacre;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Q3RUGLfFv0

Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jId4f3SE4vc&feature=watch_response

Dave

[merrylander]

Before any one forgets, when the government bailed out GM and Chryssler the union took a significant cut. When the government bailed out Wall Street the bankers gave themselves big bonuses.

[Boreas]

Before any one forgets, when the government bailed out GM and Chryssler the union took a significant cut. When the government bailed out Wall Street the bankers gave themselves big bonuses.

I was aware of those things but somehow never put them together. Says a lot, doesn't it?

Thanks, Rob

John

[bobabode]

Before any one forgets, when the government bailed out GM and Chryssler the union took a significant cut. When the government bailed out Wall Street the bankers gave themselves big bonuses.

Then Wall St. told the taxpayers who wanted an accounting of how the TARP funds were used, to stick it. "That's proprietary information" was their excuse.
I guess we do get the government we deserve..:mad:

[mpholland]

I think the biggest difference between private and public sector unions is just the fact that private unions have finite resources and public sector just increases taxes to cover their expansions. We are already to the point where a huge portion of our taxes goes to pay for money that is already spent (debt, interest, and public sector benefits included). I wonder when people will realize that soon all the money we give won't be enough to cover what we already owe?

Happy labor day anyway! :)

[Rex E.]

I think the biggest difference between private and public sector unions is just the fact that private unions have finite resources and public sector just increases taxes to cover their expansions. We are already to the point where a huge portion of our taxes goes to pay for money that is already spent (debt, interest, and public sector benefits included). I wonder when people will realize that soon all the money we give won't be enough to cover what we already owe?

Happy labor day anyway! :)

Bingo! I believe this is a part of the reason or the reason why guys like Finn and myself don't support public sector unions.

Happy Labor Day All!

[merrylander]

I think the biggest difference between private and public sector unions is just the fact that private unions have finite resources and public sector just increases taxes to cover their expansions. We are already to the point where a huge portion of our taxes goes to pay for money that is already spent (debt, interest, and public sector benefits included). I wonder when people will realize that soon all the money we give won't be enough to cover what we already owe?

Happy labor day anyway! :)

Uh chaps, it is the pols that are guilty, not the unions, there is no reason - other than hoping to buy votes - that the pols should give in to every demand. If I was a public sector worker and the pols behaved that way I would be damned if I would vote for them.

[mpholland]

Uh chaps, it is the pols that are guilty

Union byproduct?

[BlueStreak]

What? No comments from the right?

Dave

[bobabode]

What? No comments from the right?

Dave

It's just more bitching and moaning without any concrete ideas on the crux of the bisquit i.e. campaign financing reform The problem is solely with the politicians and their lust for ever bigger warchests. Blaming the unions is like cropping your dogs tail because they get water all over the place after a swim. It would crack me up if it wasn't so sad, all of this union bashing going on. It's like some otherwise intelligent people have lost their ability to think and critically look at the problem. Teachers, firemen & cops are the bad guys? Oh please, grow the hell up. Any group of people should have the right to organize and bargain for a better life with their employer. Go after the representatives and senators who pervert the system not the unions who's sole job is to look out for their members interests.

[bhunter]

What? No comments from the right?

Dave

I cooked some chicken after working all day. I hope you all had a wonderful Labor Day. I'm celebrating because it's the last holiday of the summer and represents the coming of my favorite time of year, namely, winter. I know you lefties are getting excited over your Democratic Convention. I will only be watching Pelosi and Biden, but will read Obama's transcript.

[bhunter]

Before any one forgets, when the government bailed out GM and Chryssler the union took a significant cut. When the government bailed out Wall Street the bankers gave themselves big bonuses.

Didn't the GM creditors also take a significant cut, but without the future guarantees given the unions? I think that the standard bankruptcy procedures should have occurred. What was done for GM cost somebody somewhere and was a terrible precedent to set.

[BlueStreak]

BH,

A friend informed me that Labor Day "...was created by appreciative employers. It has nothing to do with unions." I know where he got that; I own a radio too. That garbage came from Limbaugh and the crew at EIB, as most absurd rightwing lies do. (And I'm certain they got it from one of the Koch funded think tanks.).

I buried him under the same pile of links that I posted here. He hasn't responded since Friday. I'm pretty sure it's because he now knows that what he was told is a lie. One of many.

That was the point of this thread.

Dave

[ebacon]

A friend informed me that Labor Day "...was created by appreciative employers. It has nothing to do with unions." . . .

Until recently I was under the same impression but arrived at it on my own. That's what happens when I think. :D