Hard work and dedication beat the British, then built this country. Our democracy has sustained it, and we owe gratitude to the American worker who powers it.
What a great essay Adam! This message needs to be heard throughout our country and especially through our halls of each state and federal congress, agency, organization, department, and boardroom.
Julie, not to be a history nerd, but Grover Cleveland was the Democratic interlude between a string of post-Civil War Republican presidents that ended with Woodrow Wilson’s election in 1912. He supported labor, particularly Irish immigrants (and even defended Irish US Civil War veterans who invaded Canada around 1870 in an effort to kidnap Canada and hold it hostage in exchange for a free Ireland. ☘️🇮🇪. But yeah, dispute all of that, you are right in pointing out how he acted when push came to shove.
Oh, oh, yes. The plumbers, the roofers, the electricians, the farmers on tractors with combines are not cute abstractions for me. These are the men and women of my county in West Central Ohio. They were my father and father-in-law, my students. I have known them and value their presence and knowledge like gold. I am fortunate to live like a queen in the county where I was born. I speak with experience, having spent ten plus years in Dubai and a year and a half in Abu Dhabi. I was a professor for Emirati students and I value that. But I am home in Ohio with my people of the land.
There is and was a time when at least small businesses understood their greatest asset was their employees. I am proud to say my Dad ran a tool and Die shop in Grand Rapids Mi that way - Rapid Die and Engineering. Nobody ‘had’ to retire - and few did - they just became part timers. They were there because they wanted to be. They brought in their brothers, sons and grandsons - if they had aptitude and desire, great! Many started as summer jobs as sweepers as kids - my brother included. (I worked in the office and just cleaned office rest rooms while answering phones and acting as receptionist! The guys could work their way into apprenticeships post high school.). There was monthly profit sharing before anyone else heard of such a thing. And when times were bad, Dad took pay cuts first as he became owner - said as owner he got the most benefit, so he should get the most risk - not the guys on the floor. I believe this is the America that we need to get back to - where we take care of each other and appreciate each other. The great recession closed that shop - it was profitable, but banks decided as an auto supplier, they no longer wanted to handle it. No bank, no business - too small for national bank - who wouldn’t touch autos anyway - too big for locals. Every supplier paid in full - no bankruptcy to try to scam every penny - Dad didn’t do business that way.
BUT he was a first round Trump supporter. He died of cancer during covid - did not see the insurrection - I thank God for that. And I’d like to think he would see what has been going on and be firmly against it. I think as one who studied the second world war he well remembered as a kid, he would draw pretty close comparisons. He fought unionization in his shop by matching every UAW benefit and having an open door policy for everyone - down to those sweepers. By working just as hard as every guy there - and they knew it. They never worked ‘for him’ - they worked ‘with him’ and he was never a business owner - he was a proud tool and die maker. We need fewer attorneys and accountants and hedge fund players running the show and more people who do ‘real’ things. Military leaders who have served in combat leadership roles in multiple theaters - not those who ‘served on TV’. Look at Mark Carney’s resume - then Trump’s - no comparison. Look at our Secretary of anything’s - a joke! Its no wonder this is a mess. Yes, we need to clean house - AND choose wisely in the process.
My father also owned his business, it was closed shop so everyone was union. He gave shares to his father and children so that he owned less than fifty percent so that we could have the great union benefits like health insurance, pension, wage bargaining and job security.
We just worked for the shop , but expected to I guess. I was horridly disappointed to be told a girl could not be an apprentice - in no uncertain terms. And only a mold maker (meaning my younger brother) would run the business - period. I think Dad was eventually sorry for that - brother did not love it as I did, although did do his best to keep it going. (Brother died before Dad, but after shop closed.) I grew up entertaining customers as a family - we just thought it as normal as a farm family thinks of doing chores. Eventually my little family was pushed out, so we actually replaced that part of family life with a tiny farm for kids to contribute with and husband worked at other area shops. Automation has killed so many jobs - and cheap Chinese labor. Venture capital bought small shops saying they would help - not…. Just themselves by parting out. So I see where the anger comes from, its just misdirected.
That is what Labor Day is all about. Thank you Adam. Our country is for ALL of us. Everyone. That is what has made us so powerful and worth protecting. It seems like every single day this kooky regime is turning us into some third world state. Everything from those tacky decorations in the Oval Office right down to driving the worker into poverty. Everyone sees that, and we will see how long that lasts. Looks like that is going over like a lead balloon. Thanks again for that essay, it was really great.
I am and feel very blessed that we had brave, tough union members long before I was born who paid with blood, sweat, and tears for the rights that many workers enjoy. Union members have to be vigilant when they elect new leaders to keep criminal elements out of the union functioning to fairly represent all of the workers.
Excellent commentary. You are so in tune to the regular person and how they think and feel. That is exactly what MOST Washington politicians are not in tune too. Specifically the Republican Party these days. They seem too worried about getting re elected and making money no matter how the rest of us are doing. While making money and trying to get re elected, they shirk their duty of upholding the constitution and representing their constituents who are the workers of this country.
Case in point, all the corruption in just the past few years. People making billions and billions or even millions of dollars as a public servant, those words, making billions and public servant just don’t mesh. Meanwhile the rest of us are paying the bill with our sweat.
Thank you to the Unions who have helped all of us, union and non union workers have a better life. Happy Labor Day!
Thank you for mentioning the air traffic controllers. My dad became one out of the Air Force. I was 11 years old when he was fired for going on strike. My first born child was two when he was hired back. He was still working when 9/11 happened. The job is mentally and physically straining. My father loved his job in spite of all the stress. That’s when I learned to never vote republican. It all started with Reagan.
What a great essay Adam! This message needs to be heard throughout our country and especially through our halls of each state and federal congress, agency, organization, department, and boardroom.
Thank you Adam.
How truly Republican good ol’Grover was!
Kill a few workers and we will all be in fear.
R’s haven’t changed in a century. Still bully boys.
Julie, not to be a history nerd, but Grover Cleveland was the Democratic interlude between a string of post-Civil War Republican presidents that ended with Woodrow Wilson’s election in 1912. He supported labor, particularly Irish immigrants (and even defended Irish US Civil War veterans who invaded Canada around 1870 in an effort to kidnap Canada and hold it hostage in exchange for a free Ireland. ☘️🇮🇪. But yeah, dispute all of that, you are right in pointing out how he acted when push came to shove.
Thank you, Adam. May you and your family have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day.
Oh, oh, yes. The plumbers, the roofers, the electricians, the farmers on tractors with combines are not cute abstractions for me. These are the men and women of my county in West Central Ohio. They were my father and father-in-law, my students. I have known them and value their presence and knowledge like gold. I am fortunate to live like a queen in the county where I was born. I speak with experience, having spent ten plus years in Dubai and a year and a half in Abu Dhabi. I was a professor for Emirati students and I value that. But I am home in Ohio with my people of the land.
What a wonderful reflection on LABOR DAY. Thank you.
Solidarity For Ever!
There is and was a time when at least small businesses understood their greatest asset was their employees. I am proud to say my Dad ran a tool and Die shop in Grand Rapids Mi that way - Rapid Die and Engineering. Nobody ‘had’ to retire - and few did - they just became part timers. They were there because they wanted to be. They brought in their brothers, sons and grandsons - if they had aptitude and desire, great! Many started as summer jobs as sweepers as kids - my brother included. (I worked in the office and just cleaned office rest rooms while answering phones and acting as receptionist! The guys could work their way into apprenticeships post high school.). There was monthly profit sharing before anyone else heard of such a thing. And when times were bad, Dad took pay cuts first as he became owner - said as owner he got the most benefit, so he should get the most risk - not the guys on the floor. I believe this is the America that we need to get back to - where we take care of each other and appreciate each other. The great recession closed that shop - it was profitable, but banks decided as an auto supplier, they no longer wanted to handle it. No bank, no business - too small for national bank - who wouldn’t touch autos anyway - too big for locals. Every supplier paid in full - no bankruptcy to try to scam every penny - Dad didn’t do business that way.
BUT he was a first round Trump supporter. He died of cancer during covid - did not see the insurrection - I thank God for that. And I’d like to think he would see what has been going on and be firmly against it. I think as one who studied the second world war he well remembered as a kid, he would draw pretty close comparisons. He fought unionization in his shop by matching every UAW benefit and having an open door policy for everyone - down to those sweepers. By working just as hard as every guy there - and they knew it. They never worked ‘for him’ - they worked ‘with him’ and he was never a business owner - he was a proud tool and die maker. We need fewer attorneys and accountants and hedge fund players running the show and more people who do ‘real’ things. Military leaders who have served in combat leadership roles in multiple theaters - not those who ‘served on TV’. Look at Mark Carney’s resume - then Trump’s - no comparison. Look at our Secretary of anything’s - a joke! Its no wonder this is a mess. Yes, we need to clean house - AND choose wisely in the process.
My father also owned his business, it was closed shop so everyone was union. He gave shares to his father and children so that he owned less than fifty percent so that we could have the great union benefits like health insurance, pension, wage bargaining and job security.
We just worked for the shop , but expected to I guess. I was horridly disappointed to be told a girl could not be an apprentice - in no uncertain terms. And only a mold maker (meaning my younger brother) would run the business - period. I think Dad was eventually sorry for that - brother did not love it as I did, although did do his best to keep it going. (Brother died before Dad, but after shop closed.) I grew up entertaining customers as a family - we just thought it as normal as a farm family thinks of doing chores. Eventually my little family was pushed out, so we actually replaced that part of family life with a tiny farm for kids to contribute with and husband worked at other area shops. Automation has killed so many jobs - and cheap Chinese labor. Venture capital bought small shops saying they would help - not…. Just themselves by parting out. So I see where the anger comes from, its just misdirected.
Beautifully written essay, Adam. Thank you.
Well said, Adam.
That is what Labor Day is all about. Thank you Adam. Our country is for ALL of us. Everyone. That is what has made us so powerful and worth protecting. It seems like every single day this kooky regime is turning us into some third world state. Everything from those tacky decorations in the Oval Office right down to driving the worker into poverty. Everyone sees that, and we will see how long that lasts. Looks like that is going over like a lead balloon. Thanks again for that essay, it was really great.
I am and feel very blessed that we had brave, tough union members long before I was born who paid with blood, sweat, and tears for the rights that many workers enjoy. Union members have to be vigilant when they elect new leaders to keep criminal elements out of the union functioning to fairly represent all of the workers.
Adam,
Excellent commentary. You are so in tune to the regular person and how they think and feel. That is exactly what MOST Washington politicians are not in tune too. Specifically the Republican Party these days. They seem too worried about getting re elected and making money no matter how the rest of us are doing. While making money and trying to get re elected, they shirk their duty of upholding the constitution and representing their constituents who are the workers of this country.
Case in point, all the corruption in just the past few years. People making billions and billions or even millions of dollars as a public servant, those words, making billions and public servant just don’t mesh. Meanwhile the rest of us are paying the bill with our sweat.
Thank you to the Unions who have helped all of us, union and non union workers have a better life. Happy Labor Day!
Thank you for mentioning the air traffic controllers. My dad became one out of the Air Force. I was 11 years old when he was fired for going on strike. My first born child was two when he was hired back. He was still working when 9/11 happened. The job is mentally and physically straining. My father loved his job in spite of all the stress. That’s when I learned to never vote republican. It all started with Reagan.
Dear Adam,
Thank you for excellently letting everyone understand the history of "Labor Day" and its importance.
I also wish you and everyone a truly restful and enjoyable "Labor Day"!!
❤️