The Historical and Economic Context of Labor Day

Labor Day was the brain child of the labor movement. It came in to the mind of labor advocates at a time when the sweat and toil of American men, women, and children was not honored; for wealth it brought the whole nation. It came at time when Victorian tycoons felt they were entitled by God; to the benefits of the labor of the poor and people of color. The ruling classes in general had not regard for the health or welfare of the common man or his family.

The goal of Labor Day was for a public acknowledgment the fact that the American worker; be it a farmer, miner, or factory worker had shaped and defined the wealth and values of this country from the beginning. The fact that the state of the American worker was more representative by the exsitance of sweathouses than houses with a white picket fences was frustrating to early labor leaders..This was more than enough motivation for activist in the early labor movement to seek some recognition and appreciation by society at large for the American worker.

Two men who worked tirelessly for the celebration of the American worker. Peter J McGuire, Irish American cabinetmaker and general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, and a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor was one. He set forth the idea to honor the laborers in the United States in May 1882. He believed that parades and public gathering that allowed the average Americans to show their pride in their amazing productivity was a good public relation move for labor. He hoped it would motivate the public at large to demand fairness and true economic progress from the titans of corporate America. He suggested a day to honor common laborers in May 1882.

Matthew Maguire who was a machinist and later secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, NJ, supported a paid Labor Day celebration for members of the association .The union wholeheartedly, embraced the idea. The first union backed Labor day was celebrated on September 5, 1883.

At the end of the 1880's other workers associations were lobbying for their state governments for a Labor day celebration. Oregon adopted Labor Day as a state celebration. It was first celebrated in Oregon on February 21, 1887. Soon Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and New Jersey adopted statewide Labor Day celebrations.

A demonstrative event in 1894 would help to Labor Day to become a nationally recognized holiday. The Pullman Company, a manufacturer of sleeping cars to passenger trains, felt the strain of an economic down turn. The Pullman Company management let go many of the long term employees.The company also cut the wages of those still employed by the company.

In revenge for what they saw as unfair treatment, workers came out and held a general strike. They stopped production of all new sleeping cars. In unity with their brothers at and sympathy for the plight of the Pullman workers at the American Railway Union, led by Eugene V. Debs refused to carry rail cars made by the Pullman Company. This entirely this shut down the railway nation wide. When the US. Mail was interrupted it was no longer a concern of labor and industry, but a national issue.

The President of the United States felt that to avoid economic disaster he needed to intervene. President Grover Cleveland, who was opposed to efforts to gain workers rights, declared the strike illegal and a federal crime. The strikers were ordered by the government back to work. The brave unionist refused to break the strike and other workers would not cross picket lines. American brothers in labor stood their ground and refused to return to work. This caused 12,000 federal troops to be called in by the federal government to gain the compliance of the strikers.

Violence erupted in the north between workers and soldiers and two men were killed. Citizens were outraged that average American workers were being attacked by the very military that existed to protect their, obviously very limited, rights. The strike ended ,but the public view of Cleveland and the Unionists changed. The public demanded the government take steps to protect the average worker. Labor rights became a top political concern of the public.

1894 was a year of the election .In hope's of easing growing public concern for American worker rights; Cleveland signed the bill making Labor Day a national celebration of all workers contributions to national welfare of the country

The unions have uplifted the American worker to be people who could hope for more than subsistence on the edge of utter poverty. In the moment that the upper industrial class was continuing to act entitled to the fruits of the average workers labor with out regard for their welfare; brave men stood together and said no.

This set in place the laws and practices that built America's middle class. The labor movement made the belief in the American dream of prosperity and worker safety a reality. Non union workers today are the beneficiaries of of the sacrifice of these early unionists All workers now have the right to have representation and safety standards at their job. They are protected by law from some of the frivolous whims corporate America. Sadly, the hope of the American worker is again being shattered.

Socialism is a dirty word to conservatives and their corporate comrades. The rise of unions created the middle class. Corporate America made sure that the very people who benefit from unions fear all forms of social progression. The propaganda against socialism and unions occurred before any of the deregulation of the past two decades. It has worked to crush any idea of the growth of the middle class. Now the days of the middle class and the whole idea of prosperous American workers has all but vanished. We need this Labor Day to mourn the passing of a better future for children of every worker and the American dream.

What Socialism Is In Reality

Socialism is the belief that children should not have to go to school hungry. Socialism is the belief that sweatshops are to not only a serious affront to a only a Christian society, but to a society of all rational and ethical beings. Socialism demands fair treatment of workers regardless of race, gender, or sectarian affiliation. Socialism believes people should be justly compensated for their work and for their contribution to the community. Socialism demands that society as a whole treat all people with dignity, justice, and respect.

The individual has no control of their own destiny; if they are not given opportunities to prosper and improve their own lot. Socialism supports the ability of all people to develop and use their talents for the good their own family and their neighbor as well. That is what socialism stands for.

It is not an invitation for the government to exploit the worker so CEOs can make more money. It is not a call for US politicians to listen to lobbyist because their clients line the campaign coffers of elected officials. Socialism is a call for government to value all its citizens and have the concerns of the common folk become the direction of our national effort.

Sources
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/modsbook33.html
http://dictionary.reference.http://www.mkeever.com/essay.
htmlcom/browse/socialism
http://www.anglocatholicsocialism.org/laborday.html