This Monday, Sept. 1, marks Labor Day, a holiday originally designed to honor the American worker, but one that has lost too much of its significance in recent decades. Now known more for barbecues and end-of-summer celebrations, the holiday is a far cry from its origins.
When Labor Day was first observed in the late 19th century, the political aspects of it were not only more pronounced, they were the main focus. Originally celebrated by the Central Labor Union in New York City in 1882, it grew along with the popularity of labor unions, gradually gaining recognition from state legislatures until becoming a federal holiday in 1894. Initially, Labor Day involved two elements: street parades that showed the strength of labor organizations, and festivals to make the event fun for workers and their families. Today, the former is mostly relegated to union-sponsored events, and the latter has become the only part of the holiday most people observe.
This is too bad, because honoring the American worker is something that should transcend party politics or your opinion on unions. Long gone are the days of lifetime jobs with pensions, but in far too many cases, the American worker has been asked to make these sacrifices while corporate leaders continue to reap profits unheard of in generations past. Many large corporations no longer even put the production values of American workers at the forefront of their business. For example, look no further than this week’s blockbuster deal merging Burger King and Tim Hortons. Yes, the tax dodge is disappointing, so too is the fact that the deal reads less like the merger of two restaurant corporations, but rather that of two financial services companies, worried more about real estate and other corporate holdings than burgers and donuts.
Much has been said about the two-tiered economic recovery from the Great Recession. The economy continues to show steady growth, throwing off great corporate profits, but the people who need the money aren’t getting it, and without that consumer spending, the strong job growth and healthy GDP we all profess to want will remain out of reach.
While many holidays honor an important historical figure, Labor Day honors the many important people whose labor make up the backbone of our nation. So, as you enjoy the Labor Day holiday and take some much-deserved time to relax with family and friends, be sure to remember why the holiday exists.
