Labor’s Day—And Yours

http://blog.aflcio.org/2007/09/03/labors-dayand-yours/

By Dick Meister

Dick Meister, a San Francisco-based journalist, explains how Labor Day offers us a chance to remember that many of the benefits we take for granted we owe to the union movement.

Labor Day. Time once more for politicians and union adherents to speak of the greatness of organized labor. Time once more for the rest of us to ignore the speechmakers, as we mark the end of summer with yet another three-day weekend.

The general public indifference is understandable. After all, only 12 percent of the country’s working people are in unions these days. But even if you are not a union member—even if you do not approve of unions—consider this while you’re enjoying the long Labor Day holiday: there wouldn’t be any three-day weekends if it wasn’t for those unions. None.

If unions hadn’t done what they did—and continue to do—it’s highly unlikely that anyone outside the executive ranks would be getting a paid holiday on Labor Day, or on any other day. (Or even, of course, that there would be such a holiday as Labor Day.)

Nor is it likely that those who are required to work on such holidays would be getting the pay of two to three times their regular rate that unions have made the standard for holiday work in most areas—or get premium pay for any other work, at any other time.

FULL story at link.