Labor Day is the national holiday we celebrate always
on the first Monday in September. Thankfully Labor Day is a day
off-work to relax
and have fun, or if salaried and working probably a "double pay" day,
and that's good too. As the result of the collective efforts, the
courage of those who lived before us, the formation of labor groups
then unions-- written into federal law are
workplace safety
requirements, financial protection, and fair labor standards.
Here is a
Labor
Day holiday video from the History television channel, total time
8:34 minutes video (4 categories described
below, time sequence of each noted). Information from that video has
been outlined below, supplemented and linked in part for further detail
and clarity.
History and overview of Labor day. 0:00 to
3:28 minutes
The
industrial revolution created a need for improved worker conditions.
1887
Oregon was the first State to recognize Labor Day, the holiday.
1894 Labor Day became a
USA Federal Holiday. President Cleveland
declared the holiday as the result of a railway worker protest disaster
(federal troops killed 2 workers).
1950's Unions grew to 1/3 of the labor force. Labor Day was a time to
rally for safer worker conditions, fair pay, and benefits.
Late 1970's
the USA union labor force began to decline.
Current status: "for most people Labor Day is summer's last hurrah!".
The factory. 3:39 to 5:39 minutes
1910
Henry Ford was first to build cars by assembly line, an automation
model which became the industry standard.* Second generation,
assembly
line work has transitioned to robots doing much of the repetitive work
while employees working along side.
The origin and end of child labor, protest and demand for
legislation. 5:40 to 7:27 minutes
Early 1800's, 1900's labor groups workers fought against
child
labor and to improve worker conditions but had little power until
unions were formed.
20th century unions fought to put an end to
child labor, and promote
worker safety and living condition benefits.
Legislation through the US Department of Labor (the result of labor
union effort). 7:28 to 8:34 minutes
Wage and Hour Act (1938),
Fair Labor Standards: minimum
wage, and hour standards (40 hour week, or overtime pay), limited work
hours for children, record keeping.
Social Security Act (1935, 1939),
Unemployment Compensation: 1) temporary and
partial wage replacement, stabilize the economy during recessions.
Social Security Act (1935),
Federal pension system: initially
industrial
workers, the poor and elderly; then a "pay as you go" system expanded
to include most workers.
Wagner Act (1935),
National Labor Relations: employees have the right
of self-organization, labor organizations,
collective bargaining
through their representatives.
----
* Some problems with repeated assembly line automation are described in
humor from Charlie Chaplin in
Modern Times, (the 1936 movie). Video 4:24 minutes.
And, later by Lucille Ball in the television sitcom
I Love Lucy "Candy Assembly Line" (1950's). Video
2:59 minutes.
Additional Labor Day references:
History.com.
US
Government. And,
The
Department
of Labor.
Posted by Kathy Meeh
