Written on: September 3rd, 2023
Happy Labor Day to the workers of every field! The world runs on your contributions and you all deserve respect, recognition, and a day to relax. We hope you have a great one!
Labor Day was made a holiday by President Grover Cleveland in 1894, after 30 states made it a state holiday before the federal law naming the holiday passed. The law only made it a holiday for federal workers. Wikipedia (1) notes that Labor Day became a federal holiday shortly after the Pullman Strike (2).
As the Panic of 1893 weakened much of the economy, railroad companies ceased purchasing new passenger cars made by Pullman. When his company laid off workers and lowered wages, it did not reduce rents, and the workers called for a strike. Among the reasons for the strike were the absence of democracy within the town of Pullman and its politics, the rigid paternalistic control of the workers by the company, excessive water and gas rates, and a refusal by the company to allow workers to buy and own houses.
Pullman Strike – Wikipedia (2)
Some recent labor news.
- A new report from the Treasury Department shows labor unions are good for labor, companies, and the economy (3)
[Vice President] Harris stressed that “when union workers stand in solidarity and fight for better wages, better benefits and better working conditions, it benefits all workers.” Yellen said the report’s findings “challenge arguments that unions hold back growth.” Instead, she said, stronger unions “could contribute to reversing the stark increase in inequality we’ve seen in recent decades, promoting economywide growth.”
MSNBC (3)
- A new rule from the Labor Department expands overtime pay for millions (4)
Workers making less than about $55,000 annually would be automatically entitled to time-and-a-half pay under DOL’s proposal, up from $35,568 set in 2019 under former President Donald Trump.
“For over 80 years, a cornerstone of workers’ rights in this country is the right to a 40-hour workweek, the promise that you get to go home after 40 hours or you get higher pay for each extra hour that you spend laboring away from your loved ones,” acting Labor Secretary Julie Su said in a release. “Workers deserve to continue to share in the economic prosperity of Bidenomics.”
Politico (4)
- SAF-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) and WGA (Writers Guild of America) strike continues. As of today’s writing, the strike has gone on for 50 days.
- UAW (United Auto Workers) approve possible strikes against GM, Ford, and Stellantis (5)
- New Biden-Harris rule makes it easier for workers to form unions (6)
Bidenomics is resonating with the American people as they seek re-election next year. The federal government is promoting the general welfare, as opposed to billionaire and millionaire welfare. This is opposite of Reagan’s false warning that government help is harmful. According to World Population Review (7), there are 724 billionaires in the US. Time to make the government and economy work for the remaining 335 million people in the US.
Notes:
(1) Wikipedia Labor Day https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_Day
(2) Wikipedia Pullman Strike
(3) MSNBC Treasury confirms labor unions are good for the economy https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/biden-yellen-treasury-union-strike-inflation
(4) Politico Biden Labor Department moves to expand overtime pay for millions https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/30/biden-labor-department-over-time
(5) CNN UAW members approve possible strikes at GM, Ford and Stellantis https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/25/business/uaw-strike-vote-gm-ford-stellantis/index.html
(6) Huff Post Biden Appointees Just Made It Easier For Workers To Form Unions https://www.huffpost.com/entry/biden-nlrb-cemex-case-unions
(7) World Population Review Billionaires by Country 2023 https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/billionaires-by-country
smilingdad 