If You Have A Paid Holiday Today, Thank A Union Member

[kpete]

If You Have A Paid Holiday Today, Thank A Union Member
By Susie Madrak Monday Sep 07, 2009 9:06am

And for the 8-hour workday, thank the labor movement:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight-hour_day

In the United States, Philadelphia carpenters went on strike in 1791 for the ten-hour day. By the 1830s, this had become a general demand. In 1835, workers in Philadelphia organized a general strike, led by Irish coal heavers. Their banners read, From 6 to 6, ten hours work and two hours for meals. Labor movement publications called for an eight-hour day as early as 1836. Boston ship carpenters, although not unionized, achieved an eight-hour day in 1842.

In 1864, the eight-hour day quickly became a central demand of the Chicago labor movement. The Illinois legislature passed a law in early 1867 granting an eight-hour day but had so many loopholes that it was largely ineffective. A city-wide strike that began on May 1, 1867 shut down the city's economy for a week before collapsing. In 1868, Congress passed an eight-hour law for federal employees, which was also of limited effectiveness.

In August 1866 the National Labor Union at Baltimore passed a resolution that said, "The first and great necessity of the present to free labour of this country from capitalist slavery, is the passing of a law by which eight hours shall be the normal working day in all States of the American Union. We are resolved to put forth all our strength until this glorious result is achieved."

more:
http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/if-you-have-paid-holiday-today-thank

[elocs]

1. I don't have a paid holiday, but I thank Unions just the same.

I am still a member in good standing with the Teamsters.

[bamacrat]

2. I have an unpaid holiday, but love the Unions.

Closed for labor day and I work off commission. Boo

[usregimechange]

3. Thank you union movement

[imdjh]

4. Why eight hours? Anyone know? Is it Biblical or something?

Just curious, since it seems to enjoy consensus as a reasonable work day.

[gratuitous]

5. If your workplace is a little safer today, thank a union member

You think those air-supplied respirators, fall protection harnesses, and other workplace safety standards just happened? That employers just came up with those ideas on their own, and bestowed them on workers out of the goodness of their hearts?

[imdjh]

7. In general I would agree.

A lot of innovation in the work place and the lives of workers in the US has been an American way of doing things a bit differently than was done in Europe. A lot of it was common sense driven as well. "

[mike_c]

6. I thank my union every day....

Solidarity!

[endless october]

8. thank you, unions.

thank you for worker protection and paid holidays.

thanks for standing by me when i first got out of grad school and the warehouse i was working at for spare money canned me and a bunch of others to bring in temp workers. even though it was the last day of our probationary period and the union couldn't do anything to save those jobs. i went on to work a professional job with my education, but i never forgot the rep sitting with me at the termination.

thanks to the teachers' union for helping my parents get a fair wage for the work they do in public schools. i had a nice childhood due to their hard work, and the extra money you helped them earn made it easier for me to go to college and grad school.

thanks for benefits, two day weekends, and 40 hour work weeks.

hopefully America will wake up again someday and stop trying to destroy you.