| Thoughts on Labor Day | for everyone |
• Child labor laws
• 40-hour work week
• Overtime
• Workmen's Compensation
• Non-discriminatory hiring practices
• Workplace safety laws
• Unemployment compensation
• Paid vacations
• Retirement pensions
This is just a partial list of gains for workers granted voluntarily through the generosity of businesses concerned for their employees. Oh, wait, no, these things that we now define as givens for a good job came as the result of decades of struggle by organized groups of workers known as unions.
Are unions perfect? Of course not. But we owe them a debt that we need to try to pay forward if we are to preserve the standard of living we want for our children.
The rise of the middle class in America parallels the rise of union jobs and union membership. The shrinking of the middle class in America is directly correlated to the decline in unions and the number of union jobs. The parallel is clear and ongoing. Ignore it at your peril.
So thanks to those brave men and women who fought for upward mobility for those who came before and who continue to fight bravely to preserve the American way of life.
Drmist1 wrote on Sep 9, '11
ReplyDeleteWell said.
Terri Kung wrote on Sep 20, '11
ReplyDeleteAmen, brother. Dad was a proud member of the CWA.
When I was a Prudential debit agent in Kansas City I was proud to be an AFLCIO member. I never worked anywhere else where there was a union. There is a National Association of State Farm Agents, but The Company only recognizes its existence when in court.
ReplyDelete