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Happy Labor Day

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On this day I thought it would be appropriate to honor those for whom this day was initially celebrated, the American labor unions. Grover Cleveland may have reluctantly signed the bill commemorating the day into law, but it marked a decisive turning point in the relationship between industry and labor in this country.

Comments

  1. avrdsSeptember 7, 2009 at 4:58 PM

    I just read in Brinkley how TR donated his peace prize money to establish a commission for industrial peace, to bring peace between the classes. Amazing gesture when you think about it.

    Not sure if Brinkley will clarify this later, but it turns out that commission was never established -- WWI got in the way for one thing and the US pushed back hard on unions -- and the money in the end was given to charity.

    I'm curious now to see if Brinkley will carry that story forward or not.

    ReplyDelete
  2. RickSeptember 7, 2009 at 5:45 PM

    I ran in the Avondale Estates 5K Labor Day race this morning, all proceeds benefiting ALS research. The race began a few minutes after 9:00 a.m., so the air was still relatively cool and, for this time of year in Georgia, surprisingly dry. Although I wasn't the oldest runner, I was one of the oldest. Jogged alongside a pregnant woman for a while. She was probably 5 months along.

    ReplyDelete
  3. avrdsSeptember 7, 2009 at 6:01 PM

    Congratulations, Rick! We should all be out there running for labor!

    ReplyDelete
  4. MartiSeptember 8, 2009 at 8:48 AM

    Good going, Rick.

    ReplyDelete
  5. MartiSeptember 8, 2009 at 8:50 AM

    Gintaras, do you know where that Labor photo was taken? It looks like a factory. Also wondered if that was just of people getting off work or a parade.

    ReplyDelete
  6. James FergusonSeptember 8, 2009 at 10:43 AM

    The picture from the Pullman archives, although I think it was happier times, not a walk out.

    ReplyDelete
  7. James FergusonSeptember 8, 2009 at 10:47 AM

    The Pullman Strike apparently precipitated the call for a national labor day holiday. It was such a volatile time to read "Death in the Haymarket."

    ReplyDelete

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