Congress Should Abolish ‘Labor’ Day

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

When Congress created Labor Day in the late 1800s, it was to placate an increasingly hostile labor movement. At a time when American workers needed protection from heavy-handed industrial bosses, labor unions made sense.

But with the growing effort by Big Labor to unionize public employees, it’s left its mission of worker protection from dangerous conditions and now has increasingly become a leech on the taxpayers. Public employees hardly need protection from their employer, the government.

If there’s any segment of society that needs protection from the government it’s taxpayers, not their employees.

Big Labor’s legacy today is that of creating pension systems that are continuing to plunge deeper into the red. Some reports indicate the collective debt, just of school employee pensions, is around $1 trillion.

Public employee unions have also created scenarios where the health benefits of their members now cost school districts nearly $24,000 in places like Milwaukee.

And they’ve instituted schemes where teachers receive raises for not dying over the summer. With negotiated “step raises,” increases are based on years of service, not value added to the “company.”

Big Labor is bankrupting government – and we should continue honoring that?

Perhaps even worse, today’s labor leaders are downright hostile to America’s exceptionalism and worse yet, embrace socialist ideals.

AFL-CIO president Rich Trumka is calling for a global financial tax – driving us down the path of one world government.

Former SEIU heavy Andy Stern was fond of invoking Karl Marx’ calling for “workers of the world” to “unite.”

These are not out fathers’ and grandfathers’ labor unions and they do not deserve our admiration.

“Labor Day” ought to be abolished and replaced with a celebration of the American Worker – not just those that are funding the likes of Rich Trumka, Randi Weingarten and Andy Stern, but everyone that is gainfully employed and contributing to society.

The reality is, unionized workers are no longer the ones driving America’s prosperity. Big Labor’s share of the American workforce is the lowest its ever been. And its push to increase government employees – and thus its dues-paying ranks – is only making the problem worse.

Non-unionized small businesses and other segments of society are what stimulate America’s economy – not organized labor.

We should stop honoring a system that is jeopardizing America’s future and begin to embrace what will revive America’s fortunes again: all American workers.

But don’t expect that any time soon. Consider what President Obama said recently:

“We’ve reversed the executive orders of the last administration that were designed to undermine organized labor. And we are going to keep on fighting to pass the Employee Free Choice Act. I don’t give up. I don’t quit. The AFL-CIO does not give up. It does not quit. That is a commitment that I am making to you. Thank you for the commitment that you’ve made to me.”

http://biggovernment.com/kolson/2010/09/06/congress-should-abolish-labor-day/#more-164261

[Atencio 43]

I never knew the history of Labor Day. I agree with the writer on his points. I suspect though that most people don't care what the day is called as long as they get it off.

[peejay 327]

And its push to increase government employees – and thus its dues-paying ranks – is only making the problem worse.

Not only organizing government employees, but illegal aliens as well even though illegal labor is the plague of unionism in general. These unions are more interested in dues than they are with the interests of the American worker. Look at the SEIU and the unions representing the meatpacking and other similar industries. They have become nothing more than illegal alien cheerleading organizations representing the scabs that broke the unions in the first place. How much lower can the standards of unions sink just to fill their coffers? Have they no shame or convictions? I have no respect for them anymore at all and I'm a former union member that grew up in a blue collar union family background.

[Jenn! 918]

I'd like to get rid of all national holidays and just get 10 floating holidays, please.

[^_^ 5,021]

I'd like to get rid of all national holidays and just get 10 floating holidays, please.

This would be awesome. Traveling anywhere on a holiday weekend sucks balls. With 50-something weekends a year, every weekend could be a holiday weekend with one-fiftieth the traffic!

[natty bumppo 297]

This would be awesome. Traveling anywhere on a holiday weekend sucks balls. With 50-something weekends a year, every weekend could be a holiday weekend with one-fiftieth the traffic!

52

[^_^ 5,021]

52

Generally, not always. By the way I'm defining a weekend as a consecutive Saturday and Sunday.

[natty bumppo 297]

Generally, not always. By the way I'm defining a weekend as a consecutive Saturday and Sunday.

either way ... weekends are good

[^_^ 5,021]

either way ... weekends are good

no doubt!

[mawilson 2,133]

Plus I think you should always get your birthday off.

[TBoneTX 45,849]

Plus I think you should always get your birthday off.

Si, man, but that would discriminate against people who were born on February 29, si man.

I've always considered Labor Day to be a non sequitur. Why should it be called "labor" day if nobody labors on that day, huh man?

[ValerieA 350]

I think they should call it Labour Day.

On a serious note, though, a union doesn't just go in and bam, the workers are members. The workers vote to unionize, if a majority rejects it, then no union local. Gone are the days (of our fathers and grandfathers) where 'persuasion' of a physical nature would be used.

[Marilyn. 340]

my husband gets a Birthday personal day but he can use it whenever he wants...

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I never knew the history of Labor Day. I agree with the writer on his points. I suspect though that most people don't care what the day is called as long as they get it off.

Yep.

Besides it is the "unofficial" end of summer and the signal to put away the tractors and get the snowblowers out for sale, have 50% off sales on outdoor furniture, etc. Like every other holiday except "Bennington Battle Day" it has been capitalized on by business. They will howl that they "will lose millions" if a holiday is eliminated. Who wants to do that? Which politician?

The history of any holiday has been simply distorted and turned to commercial excess. As for our house...we will celebrate the Russian Orthodox Christmas on January 7 and get our gifts for 75% off!

[IndigoSkies 168]

Why are people so anti-labor and anti-workers rights? Why do people work? Isn't it for the betterment of the worker? It seems to me that if the goal being employed is to have a positive, vibrant, and happy life, and unions can help along with that, there should be unions. Nearly all American workers are overworked. And there is a mentality that the work is a slave to the corporation. This definitely doesn't bring happiness.

What's the point of earning money and working if your life is miserable and people around you are miserable?

Edited September 8, 2010 by IndigoSkies