I wonder if many of us reflect on why we celebrate this day in September.  To many it is a three day weekend that marks the end of summer and it is one last chance to escape the toils of our routines to enjoy what is left of the warm days before the sun moves south and autumn and winter arrive here in the Northern Hemisphere.

My brief research and reading indicates that this holiday is about those who came before us and confronted oppressive entities of power to secure some basic working rights.  In some ways forgetting about the genesis of this holiday it is a disservice to the memory of those in the labor movement who toiled and made progress for a just cause.  These men and women made great contributions to the fabric of our society using only the sweat of their brow and the conviction for securing justice.

The following is an excerpt from the U.S. government’s Department of Labor web site:

LABOR DAY: WHAT IT MEANS

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.

More information about Labor Day can be found at this URL:

http://www.dol.gov/laborday/history.htm

I see many posts on social media sites showing the concept that our country is a great power in the world based on military might.  I tend to disagree with that concept.  Our country is great because as a general principle we, the people, unite together for the good of all.  I think that our combined labor and judicial use of our resources is what makes us great.

Through a quick search of the Internet I found the names of some people who influenced the Labor Movement.  Many of these names are familiar to me, but I realize now that I have a limited knowledge about them and their efforts.  I need to do some reading!

• César Estrada Chávez: :Folk hero and symbol of hope who organized a union of farmworkers.
• Nelson Hale Cruikshank:Helped create Social Security and Medicare.
• Eugene Victor Debs: Apostle of industrial unionism.
• Thomas Reilly Donahue: Champion of labor renewal and former AFL-CIO president.
• Arthur Joseph Goldberg: Legal strategist for the union movement and former Secretary of Labor.
• Samuel Gompers: First and longest-serving president of the American Federation of Labor (AFL).
• William Green: Former AFL president, moved the federation toward “social reform unionism.”
• Joe Hill: Songwriter, itinerant laborer, union organizer—and martyr.
• Sidney Hillman: Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America founder invented trade unionism as we know it today.
• Mother Jones: “The most dangerous woman in America.”
• Lane Kirkland: Former AFL-CIO president had a profound effect on world affairs.
• John L. Lewis: President of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) and founding president of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO).
• Lucy Randolph Mason: Social reformer dedicated to workers’ rights and racial justice.
• Peter J. McGuire: The “father” of Labor Day and of May Day championed the need for a national labor federation.
• George Meany: The builder of the modern AFL-CIO.
• Philip Murray: CIO president who helped transform industrial union movement into a stable and powerful organization.
• Frances Perkins: Committed labor secretary and first woman in a presidential cabinet position.
• Esther Eggersten Peterson: Eloquent and effective advocate for the rights of workers, women and consumers.
• Philip Randolph: Organized the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and fought discrimination in national defense.
• Walter Reuther: Long-time president of the United Automobile Workers (UAW) considered the model of a reform-minded, liberal trade unionist.
• Bayard Rustin: Brilliant theorist, tactician and organizer and first head of the A. Philip Randolph Institute.

I hope you have a delightful experience today and every day henceforth.