May Day (May 1) is a workers’ holiday officially celebrated in most countries around the world, but not recognized in the United States. In many countries, workers mark the day by continuing to demand their rights in large demonstrations. May Day started in the U.S. in 1886 when thousands of workers in Chicago demonstrated for an eight-hour workday, and the Chicago police responded with violence.
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Workers in the Philippines demand: “Kick out the US-Arroyo regime!” The U.S. government supports Philippine President Arroyo. Photo by Jack Stephens
Workers in the Philippines demand: “Kick out the US-Arroyo regime!” The U.S. government supports Philippine President Arroyo. Photo by Jack Stephens
Labor Day in the United States is celebrated the first Monday in September. Unions worked to create a holiday to honor workers, and in 1894, Congress created Labor Day. Lawmakers chose September rather than May because they wanted to discourage people from remembering the workers’ struggles in Chicago. They named May Day “Law Day” instead. Today Labor Day in the United States is marked with parades, speeches by politicians, barbecues and sports.
- The Wellington-Oakdale Old Glory Marching Society organizes this annual Labor Day Parade in Chicago. Photo: Jill Jaracz/notfortourists.com
Lets celebrate Labor Day on May. People should know the true.
According to an internet search, only 12.5% of all American laborers are formally organized into labor unions.
If 87.5% of American workers are NOT organized labor, what’s the disconnect? In my 20+ years in the workforce I have had generally bad experiences with organized labor. Most people who I have talked to, especially those with similar backgrounds if they had the choice to organize into a labor union or make their own fame and fortune will NOT choose organized labor.
With that said, why teach our public school children a decidedly biased view of labor unions? What is the detriment to teaching both sides of the story? With the advent of the Industrial Revolution, I can agree that labor unions had their place and served a distinctly positive purpose, or at least they did, generally. Today I believe that labor unions are a crutch to many people who have no desire to attempt to ‘make it’ on their own. Along those lines, labor unions are also a detriment to employers who, many times, are ‘held hostage’ by the unions demanding unsustainable wages, benefits or both.
Small business owners that I know of WILL NOT hire union members or if they do, will not recognize any organized labor attempt within their business. Union labor is simply MUCH too expensive for most small businesses. Small businesses make up the vast majority of employers in our country.
Just my thoughts and observations. I’ve been on both sides. You can keep your unions. I’ll make it on my own.