remember Labor Day

 We are all grateful for holidays, and that most of them are on mondays so we get a 3-day weekend. 

However most of the time we view them only as time off or time for "holiday sales". and we forget the reasons that they are there. And some of them, like Veterans Day, aren't even a paid holiday for everyone.

We tend to see some, like Memorial Day and today, Labor Day, as seasonal markers, rather than what they were originally meant for. Memorial Day, seen as the beginning of summer, was originally set aside as a day for remembering and memorializing those who died in military service of our country, just as Veterans Day (which often is not given as a standard day off for most workers), was set aside to remember all those who served their country in the military. I have family recognized on each day. 

Labor Day, today, was established not as an end to summer, but as a day to remember all who labor and the gains that we all owe to the labor movement in this country. To those who organized, protested dangerous working conditions, and worked hard to change our workplaces for the better. Eight hour days, 40 hr weeks, paid overtime,, the elimination of child labor, workplace safety, and the ability of workers to organize in unions to collectively bargain for better working conditions and improved compensation for their hard labor are just a few of the benefits we have today because of the labor of others who have gone before.

And they persevered, despite harsh resistance from business owners and even government at times. They persevered in the face of government raids, accusations of being unpatriotic and subversive, and other attempts by business to organize against them. They persisted and we need to honor them for it.

So today, as on other holidays, while you are relaxing and enjoying having the day off, remember those who made this day possible and keep vigilant to not let their sacrifices be in vain. Remember especially that you only have any holidays (and paid ones at that) because of what labor organizers have done.