Open Thread – Labor Day
We are often reminded to remember the “true meaning of Christmas.” But, we’re not often reminded to remember the “true meaning of Labor Day.”
April 19, 2024
Thursday, August 3, 2023
The Quitter Returns! -Monday, March 21, 2022
Putting the goober in gubernatorial -Friday, January 28, 2022
We are often reminded to remember the “true meaning of Christmas.” But, we’re not often reminded to remember the “true meaning of Labor Day.”
Just sneaking in after most have moved on…
The song, the day, the remembrances mudpups brought…
I’m hoping we add the next chapter to this story and this day in my lifetime…
Honoring OURSELVES and our contribution to that which sustains us…
Somehow we forgot , again, that it is us who make up the we in “we the people…”
Thank you AKM.
Thanks for this meaningful opportunity to reflect on Labor Day. Not nearly enough people are aware of labor history, but when it’s in your family it lives on in the stories you heard. For us it was a great-grandfather involved in a historic strike. We know the price he paid for the subsequent blacklisting; it may have been a long time ago, but it’s not a footnote, it’s real.
And Shadow’s Heart, our family is thought to have ties to the Paterson mills, too, in the 1870s and 80s, years before unions. Including a relative who was caught in the world of child labor… the details of the story are now lost, but as the tale was told by a surviving sister, the young boy died at age 12, on the day he proudly picked up his first paycheck.
Unions may not be perfect, but they are our shield, passed down to us by the struggles of others, and ours to preserve, strengthen, and support.
Aussie Blue Sky – thank you (o:
Sorry if this has been posted already – I’m just passing through quickly, but we should all be very worried about a group called Citizens United.
Check this out regarding campaign finance:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/06/AR2009090601188.html
Shadow’s Heart Can’t you apply for unemployment online with the extension you can even at least in WI. list the two you need to list to continue getting you extension.I was never so thankful than when I received notice that almost a year later I could still receive extended benefits.And yes it is the pits to apply for help.I had to have some medical help in case something happened and my meds took up half my income so until I was eligible for medicare ,medicaid was all I had ,but I only had to go once and after that I would talk by phone and was sent the paperwork to sign Not to bad after that.
I really love the story about fired up,ready to go. It really made my day.
My dad was .i think the steelworkers union.At any rate the union worked with the workers so that in place of an increase in pay for the cost of living ,that amount went into the pension plan.My mom and dad would have lost everything if not for that union pension from my dad.He always said that when he went on S.S.,his pension was cut some,he still made more than back when he was working his butt off years ago.He has passed on now but the union also offered and included in his retirement package life insurance.which helped pay expenses and the rest divided between the living children.
Part 3 of the President’s Labor Day speech
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DPENtEAFqc&feature=related
Part 2 of the President’s Labor Day speech
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLZ3-4SD6pY&feature=related
Part 1 of the President’s Labor Day speech
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-vPV1MQC9w
Shadow’s Heart Fingers and toes crossed and prayers are with you that your interview goes well and you get the job.You are lucky you had an understanding person you rented from.
I have been in both union places and non union.It depends on the type of people who run the comp-any Many companies that are non union give better or at the very least the same benefits as a union shop does and a lot also use seniority for lay offs or what ever.
I worked at a non union place for over 20 years,when someone tried to get a union started the owner caught wind and called a meeting for each shift and said point blank he would shut down and close the plant before he would let a union in and we could make our choice.I gotta tell ya that was the end of union talk there.He was a very fair man and followed the rules and more with regard to breaks,lunch overtime and if someone needed a helping hand he was there.In fact when My brother passed away,up in Talkeetna he paid for a holiday two day notice flight up to Alaska and when I told him I wanted and agreement to have it taken out of my pay check he refused and said he did not expect to be repaid.i know he probably used it for tax purposes in the end but still he did not have to do it.I would not at that time been able to afford to fly up and stand in for the rest of the family,my mom,my dad and other brothers and sisters.So not all non union places suck.I say this even though I was laid off in 2006 and I had more seniority than the other 3 people in the warehouse but I think my health was a problem for the company by that time.
Thank you so much for sharing that clip, AKM! As the proud member and employee of AFT local 6186 in Colorado, an AFL-CIO union, I am so happy to hear all the pro-union comments on this day.
This day means nothing more than the end of summer for so much of our population.
KateinCanada – Sorry to be so slow getting back – I got fired up and gave my heeler a bath. That’s always an adventure.
There is a Firefox extension called Video Downloadhelper, available here …
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3006
Install it, restart Firefox, and you’re ready to download videos as soon as you set a few DownloadHelper options. From the Tools Menu, leftclick Add-Ons. That should open the sidebar with your installed extensions. (If it’s not showing Extensions, click the green icon that, to me, looks like a puzzle piece.)
LeftClick on Download Helper, then LeftClick Options.
LeftClick the General tab, and check Show in Status Bar and Animate Icon
LeftClick the Services tab, then the Download sub-tab. If you have a broadband connection, leave the Download Mode option set to Normal. If your connection is not DSL or Cable, I recommend changing this option to “One at a time.” That keeps Download Helper from using all your bandwidth when you select more videos for download before prior selections have finished. While you’re on this tab, you can also select a directory (folder) that you want DH to use to store your downloaded videos. If you choose a directory at this point, it can still be overridden by the Firefox download options. I prefer “Ask me every time” in the Firefox options so that I can easily keep downloads categorized.
That should get you all set up to download from Youtube. When you select a video there, the Download Helper icon will probably begin rotating just after the video starts to play. That lets you know that it has acquired the video address and is ready. RightClick the arrow next to the icon, and select Download. It will either present you with the standard Windows “Save As” dialog box, or immediately begin downloading to your pre-selected directory, depending how you have your download options selected. Download Helper struggles a bit to keep up with the changes that go on at Youtube. Until recently, right clicking the download arrow brought up a menu of options as to which resolution to download. Currently, however, it is only offering the same resolution that I am watching. I recommend that, at least for vids you want to share w/ others, you select Youtube’s HQ option before downloading. The reason is that you will need to convert those videos to another format, and the higher res gives you a better end product. Don’t worry – it’s very easy to do.
To avoid adding a second link to this, Google: winff
The first item in the list should be winff (dot) org. Go to their site and download the software (it’s free), and do the usual Windows install (use Windows Explorer, and double click or select Open to run the installation). I’ve used it with HQ videos – *.mp4 – and with the lower resolution *.flv files, and it handles both with no problem. The reason for converting is that you end up with an *.avi file which will play in Windows Media Player. To convert files after downloading, select WinFF from the Start menu or desktop icon, navigate to the file(s) to convert, and select the Convert tab. It will open a small command window while it’s working. You can minimize both windows and go on to other things. After converting, you can test your .avi file by opening it with Win Media Player before copying it to your CD. I’ve reread this and I think I’ve covered everything, but don’t hesitate with questions – I’ll check in again between 6:30 and 7:00 Mudflats Time, and probably again later.
I want to reiterate curiouser’s comments:-)
I really appreciate all of you…I don’t comment a lot, but I’m on here every day and I feel like I can always come here and count on reading civil debate and great ideas. Thanks to all of you, and to AKM and her mods for making this possible.
Have a wonderful week, Mudpuppies:-)
honesty in government # 76…
i live part time in big bear california (hence my name fawnskin which is the north shore of the lake there).
it is, indeed, an interesting zoo. there are the above listed animals in residence and blind eagles and lame wolves, etc.
somehow it makes me sad that the animals can’t end their days as they would in the wilds.
Nations have been built with the blood sweat and tears of ordinary, anonymous men and women who rarely had the opportunity to profit from their labour, other than to put food on the table and make provision for their families. Today is a day to salute each and every one of them for their dedication and loyalty, and most importantly to the movements that fought for their rights.
Happy Labour Day America.
Yet another thing to thank the unions for:
http://www.continuetolearn.uiowa.edu/laborctr/child_labor/about/us_history.html
The unions were a powerful voice in helping to abolish child labor in America.
My mother was a lifetime member of the union. She worked for Southern Bell telephone and was on the picket lines when they were fighting to be unionized. Then she served many years as the union rep for her local.
Playing Woody Gutherie tunes today in honor of the working man and the
many struggles they endured to make life easier for those of us who
followed.
@GreatGranny2B – Thanks for the info. I’m in NJ, I know they were giving out emergency extensions at one point for those who needed more the the 12 months as long as you signed up with the unemployment office and went weekly to see an employment counselor. But with so many on unemployment the system is on overload so that might not exist any longer.
I swallowed my pride and went to social services in Feb. that was two hours of my life I’ll never get back. LOL Along with a piece of my pride I’ll never get back either. : )
Sorry to hear about your medical problems and the hardship you’re facing as well. I’m very fortunate I’m pretty healthy (knock on wood) other then my Glaucoma and the minor aches and pains that come with aging I pretty ok in that department.
What good neighbor and a generous spirit you are. I’m sure the daughter will grow up to be a great cook and baker and maybe when she grows into an adult will remember the kindness extended to her family and pass it forward. Did I mention I work for food. LOL I’m sure they appreciate the extra food cause teenagers have no problem consuming food especially the growing boys.
Seems people are so transient these days and don’t set down roots like they use to, I think that has a lot to do with neighbors not being as close and willing to help out like they use to be. We each go our separate ways forgetting that no matter what we are still connected to each other just by being human.
Bucs Fan # 76 – I have tin foil in my kitchen but not on my head. But you’re right that Hale Boggs (Cokey Roberts Dad) died in that plane crash. He was a member of the Warren Commission (the then Speaker of the House) and notable for his dissent from the Official report that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. He was campaigning for Begich against Don Young. They never found the plane.
Whether this was part of those events we’ll never know but the Forces of Darkness are out there.
If there’s anyone in the mood to do check out a website and give feedback, I’ll be in chat with the address. It’s 7:20 EST. Be there for a few minutes. Thanks!
my comment about labor day posts….I was trying to say how much I appreciate all the inspiring mudpup comments.
Inspiring video and labor day post today!
Shadows’s Heart – hoping for the best from that job interview…or something better.
Gramiam – The Authoritarians is awesome. But there is more…he wrote a separate ‘Postscript on the 2008 Election’. It’s also a free PDF download.
http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~altemey/
Here should be hear
Remember GOP Chairman Greer from Florida who was responsible for a lot of this whining about Obama’s speech to the children..?
He ‘ pulled a Palin ‘ !! He was against it…. and now He is FOR it.
(a reverse Palin that is)
“ABC News’ Steven Portnoy reports: The Florida Republican party chairman who last week accused the president of trying to “indoctrinate America’s children to his socialist agenda” now says he’ll let his children watch what he calls a “good speech,” one the president “should give.”
“It’s a good speech,” Florida GOP chairman Jim Greer said Monday. “It encourages kids to stay in school and the importance of education and I think that’s what a president should do when they’re gonna talk to students across the country.”
———————————-
Gee…no kidding. You think he will call all of those people he got riled up last week and make sure they get the New Memo..?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/07/jim-greer-on-obamas-schoo_n_278872.html
I want my grandsons to here the speech.The 9 year old has severe ADHD,he struggles so hard to concentrate and do well.He is very impressionable and he needs to here encouragement to keep at it.
The link below is to a PDF document summarizing over 40 years of research into what makes right wing fanatics tick. Fascinating stuff. “Know your enemy” is an excellent motto and this will go a long way to giving us that knowledge.
http://members.shaw.ca/jeanaltemeyer/drbob/TheAuthoritarians.pdf
Nice to know we have material like this from an Arizona political blog. Told you our state is turning purple
Jan, you are correct on Nick Begich being Marks dad and Dennis Egan who was appointed by whatsername is Bill Egan’s son. Don’t know how old you are but I am old enough to remember when Nick Begich and House Majority leader Hale Boggs from Mississippi disappeared along with two other people on a flight from Anchorage to Juneau in October 1972.
Closet Mudpup- I have just gotten Firefox and waant to learn how to use it, so that would be great. Thanks- Kate
55 Writing from Alaska Says:
September 7th, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Excellent post! Also enjoyed your blog.
Many other interesting comments as well on today’s Labor Day thread.
Frank Schaeffer, author of Crazy for God: How I Grew Up as One of the Elect, Helped Found the Religious Right, and Lived to Take All (or Almost All) of It Back, has responded to Max Blumenthal’s book, Republican Gomorrah. Max has to be happy about his response.
http://tinyurl.com/npwmu3
Gryphen has posted the whole Presidents speech to the children up on his website if you have not seen it elsewhere.
His comments at the end sum it up pretty nicely as well.
Listening to Wolfe Blitzer’s Situation Room and the segment on the president’s speech to kids. Republican spokestool saying nothing wrong with speech, per se, but the “lesson plan” was bad and out of line. Gave the example of writing an essay on how they could help the president and “white house” backed off showing they were wrong. The moderator lady then played a snip from President Bush 41 asking students to do the exact same thing. All laughed except Repo man who sputtered a bit, then said the difference is that this president is a bit more divisive and should have read the “pulse” of the country better (paraphrase.)
I’m thinkin’ that clip will play a great deal.
Gosh, I feel fired up. Off to write more e-mails.
2nd link to my # 70 post and has more info and pics.
http://www.beachcalifornia.com/moonridge-zoo-bigbear-lake.html
Here is a little story that those of you in So. California, or those that may visit there someday, might like to check out. When you have something like Labor Day of some time off to be with family. This was on the PBS station last night and was about the Big Bear Lake region in So Cal. It is about the Zoo located there and it is the only Zoo that is located in an Alpine forest they said.
{ Huell Howser was the commentator- he travels all over CA}
“Big Bear Lake Moonridge Animal Park (Zoo) has long provided a shelter for injured animals who can no longer survive on their own in the forests of the local region. Bears, mountain lions, raccoons, bald eagles, wolves, grey fox and a variety of water fowl all enjoy being taken care of in a comfortable setting close to their original homes.”
“Moonridge Animal Park rescues injured and displaced animals, nursing them to health and returning them to the woods whenever possible.”
The show had three 7 month old mountain lions that were placed there after the mother was killed. They had a mother Grizzly bear that was a ‘ problem bear ‘ that had been relocated from Yellowstone. She had two 1 yo cubs that would not have been able to survive on their own so all three at at the Zoo.
Even though the Grizzly Bear is on the State Flag of CA, because at one time they were plentiful here, this mother Grizzly is the only Grizzly bear in CA.
There is a great picture of her on one of the two links.
They have the injured animals as well like the two Eagles that can not fly because hunters shot off or damaged their wings.
If you are ever down that way… it sounds like a great place to visit.
I will put the 2nd link in the next post.
http://www.moonridgezoo.org/
Jan, hmmm…oh, I know! I know!
Shadow’s heart, you’re in my thoughts. Rooting for only good to come of your interview.
I wish there was some way that these stories could be shared on a larger stage somehow. Maybe the best bet is just keep on telling them, whenever and wherever it seems appropriate.
For a long while, the buzzword was “Buy American!” but when the American company has moved its manufacturing to other countries… Maybe the rule should be that an American company manufactures IN America, or the product will be treated as an import from the country it was made in. Dunno.
Sober thoughts here for this Labor Day Holiday. Many thanks to you all.
The president’s speech is spot on, and great reminder for us to be supporting all those people who are fighting the good fight. I just e-mailed the president, and will e-mail out some atta boys shortly.
But first, a great observation
on HuffPo from “nellie”
_______________
“The story of America isn’t about people who quit when things got tough. It’s about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best.”
Hmm…. who am I thinking of…..
_________________
Isn’t it great when a speech can hit multiple levels!
A little bit of sanity coming out of the GOP?? Here’s a remark by Newt about the president’s speech:
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/09/gingrich-praises-obamas-school-speech-will-be-good-for-students-to-hear.php
Writing from AK @ 55
Excellent suggestion.
All fired up
I just finished reading “Fifty Miles from Tomorrow: A Memoir of Alaska and the Real People.” by William Hensley. Absolutely fascinating account of growing up in and around Kotzebue Sound. Here is the amazon write up and comments. http://www.amazon.com/Fifty-Miles-Tomorrow-Memoir-Alaska/dp/0374154848/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252353076&sr=8-1
I found a lot of questions I had about about corporations answered. I also got a bit better sense of what the living conditions were like and the struggles of living in multiple cultures. I read it straight through- fascinating. It is truly a story of fighting to survive physically, mentally and culturally.
On a political note, thanks to reading all the AK blogs this past year, many of the names were familiar. Nick Begnich- Mark’s dad? Bill Egan? Didn’t his son offer to step in when there was that vacant seat that woman kept screwing with? Ted- check. Several other names were mentioned that rang a bell. Kinda cool.
Although the book was published in 2009, the book is 100% Palin Free.
Two thumbs up and I will certainly be sharing this with my students, especially those who feel caught between cultures, thinking they have to choose one.
Just A Farmer – Thanks from one Kentuckian to another. I’m in western KY – about 30 minutes from LBL – so glad that no commercialism is allowed anywhere in there – so beautiful and full of wildlife. The only downside is how many families and towns were displaced by the TVA to accomplish this.
I really don’t think President Obama’s speech will have much impact on kindergarteners. My five year old granddaughter noticed a name on one of the websites I was visiting. She doesn’t pay much attention to the stuff I visit, and she was waiting patiently for her chance to go to PBS kids. She repeated the name she saw, and I almost didn’t understand her: Sasha Obama.
Obviously she is very bright and can read before even one day of kindergarten, but the Obama girls could give a message to a large portion of the school crowd. Thank goodness the president doesn’t use his kids as props.
There were many girls in the UK who followed Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose. They may not have listened to anything the King said.
It is frightening how so many in control of the schools fear the words of our elected President. It has nothing to do with him but with the powerful who are playing on the fears of little people who shout loudly but really have no voice.
Phweee, how many heart breaking testimonies to be found here. And beautifull songs.
Both my parents were born from Polish and Hungarian emmigrants, grandpas and uncles working in the coal mines in Portage, Pennsylvania. My father had to go in there at age 15, ran away after 6 months and bummed around the country with a Jack London book in his hand. Later joined the army in order to go to college, became a colonel and in 1953, got into some bad trouble with the McCarthy guys, and we left for Switzerland. My parents were just very progressive people, and believed in social justice. So I was brought up on this stuff, and became myself a progressive, though not through endoctrination from my parents. They had taught us to think for ourselves. I remember a very old scratchy record of Paul Robeson’s “revolutionary” songs, among which the song of Joe Hill
I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night,
Alive as you or me
Says I, “But Joe, you’re ten years dead,”
“I never died,” says he
“The copper bosses killed you, Joe,
They shot you, Joe,” says I.
“Takes more than guns to kill a man,”
Says Joe, “I didn’t die,”
And standing there as big as life
And smiling with his eyes
Joe says, “What they forgot to kill
Went on to organize,
“From San Diego up to Maine,
In every mine and mill,
Where workers strike and organize,”
Says he, “You’ll find Joe Hill,”
The best quotation I read was from a union magazine about 20 years ago. It said: “You can’t treat your employees like a commodity and expect them to treat your customers like a King”.
Thank you for the reminder of what the Unions have fought for. I posted this on most of the #teabag sites. #tlot #ocra #teaparty #GOP, Tweepers we need you to help fend off their vicious attacks.. Thanks again, and wasn’t the President back in Campaign mode today..Fired UP..
#handsoff
I read the speech that Pres Obama plans on giving to the school children tomorrow. Very nice speech, very uplifting and very inspirational. I suspect the naysayers will be quiet for a bit.
I am a proud union member and am very mindful of the contributions that organized labor has given us. I am in a unique situation of having worked for the same company in both union and non-union positions. Hands down, the union positions were better.
In the non-union position, my position was considered management and I was salaried with no overtime. 60-90 hour work weeks were the norm.
My union job had no unscheduled or forced overtime, mandated break times, and limitations on hours worked per day. I actually could have a life outside of work.
I’ll raise a glass to my union brothers and sisters and to those who have lost their jobs because of Bush’s economic acumen.
Let’s all hope that the Dems can muster the knowledge and the courage to do what needs to be done to correct this mess.
I just watched the end of Obama’s speech to union workers today.
He ended with the familiar: “fired up”, “ready to go”.
It’s time to push back hard against the crazies. If they really are the vocal minority, we need to let it be known.
Let’s get “Fired up”
PS post also discussed health care ‘debate’ for clarification sake on the excerpts.
I just wrote a blog post on the speech and the nonsensical rhetoric that has surrounded it. It is on the blog that links from my name – but here is the most important part so you can read it here – and don’t have to travel –
This is a plea to get motivated to change the climate of the debate and not to stop until we can see results. No more complaining – just action. The next time you are tempted to write a comment that shows concern about the flying insults, innuendos and false accusations, I challenge you to follow it up with either a positive letter of support to someone you admire, or to address the issue head on with the news sources who are profiting from publicizing the uproar.
….Not only are we being flooded with useless commentary by those whose only purpose is to weaken Obama’s presidency at any cost, we are missing out on hearing from conservative voices who could present points that could and should be considered by all sides of the debates……… I know his speech will be meaningful to many children all over the country. I am certain that it has the capacity to change lives and help children make the right decisions. It is up to us to create a framework where their good decisions can make a difference, lay the foundation for their efforts to succeed, and nurture the ground where their dreams can take root. Start by showing them that bullies of any age and no matter how influential will not be tolerated.
One thing we can do is go the White House site and thank Obama for the speech. Wouldn’t it be nice if he got tons of thank yous?
GreatGranny, yes I am (eastern KY)
@Just A Farmer – are you in Kentucky?
thks BuffaloGal – I have been away so long that my post with the speech was awaiting moderation 😉
Here it is – President Obama’s indoctrination speech:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/9/7/778260/-White-House-releases-full-text-of-school-speech
KateInCanada – What browser are you using? If it’s IE I’ll have to do a bit of Googling, but if it’s Firefox you can be downloading from Youtube in a few minutes.
Grew up in a large family where mom stayed home and Dad worked in the steel mill for over forty years. I have seen him go to work when other people would be in the hospital but that was the way he felt about his job. He got some of us summer jobs to help pay for college and those summers convinced us that the mill wasn’t for us. We gained a new respect for him realizing what he did for all those years. I was pretty clumsy growing up and have scars everywhere to prove it. All those hospital visits were covered because he had good health care gotten for us by the union. Back where I grew up, the mills are mostly gone or rusting. Can’t begin to tell you about what has happened back therewith people losing their health care and pensions. You can only guess where the total desperation leads some people. This is why we need single payer.
@#34 Shadow’sheart – Thank goodness your landlord has helped a little for the moment. Talked with hubby – he says that each state is different. Most states are the first 6 months, with a 6 month extension, and a few others have actually given the 3rd 6 month extension. The biggest problem is that so many of the states are running out of money in the Unemployment Insurance Funds, so some (like Kentucky) are not even able to pay for the 2nd 6 month extension.
I know what you mean about COBRA. Once hubby’s factory finally closes its doors, he will lose that insurance and because we have a secondary (very small coverage) policy, we don’t qualify for COBRA discount, so we would have to pay about $3800 per month because of my pre-existing condition.
Some communities have free or reduced medical clinics – are there any in your area that you might be able to use? The only one within a 100 mile radius from us has waiting lists and they only see what they term “working poor” – must have a job but no insurance. One of my grandsons used to work at the Salvation Army Shelter and Soup Kitchen. They can always use volunteers to help prepare and serve food and then have a good and nourishing meal on the house. Many people have too much pride to ask for meals with giving nothing in return, so volunteering is one way of helping others in the process. Some run into the problem of either no transportation (or gas money) to get to the shelters and kitchens.
We have neighbors with 4 teenagers and the dad lost his job and the mom works at a McD…….so there isn’t much income for them. I try to do my small part to help them, which also helps me. Their 14 year old daughter comes two afternoons after school and helps me in the kitchen – baking one day and other cooking another. Whatever we prepare, half goes home with them, along with the hourly wage we had settled on. She has a bit of pocket money and is getting kitchen skills, her family gets a little extra food they might not have, and I have some terrific help! We also have surplus from our garden and our hens are good layers so we pass some of that along as well. Neighbors used to help neighbors and it would be nice if more of that was happening.
I pray that you will have success getting that job, or that something else will come along to help you over this recession. Just never go without food – there will always be some resource to help you.
Thank you so much for that film of 1930’s miners. I live in a gold mining “ghost” town in BC and volunteer at the local museum. In serendiptiy I just this week listened to a story about a man who hauled dynamite up the mountain by donkey. But I haven’t heard any union history here- must ask.
So, I would really love to get a copy of this film downloaded to a cd to show other museum people here- can anyone tell me if I can and how?
oh, and it really gripes me every time I hear someone use the phrase “union thugs”…the “thugs” were the ones hired by the companies to bust unions.
thanks for the video.
I know this song very well and I remember the strike in Harlan County.
When I was in high school, I spent most summers there volunteering with rural visiting nurses. Tensions were high well before the strike. I remember one evening being in town for supper and vehicles suddenly speeding through town and the occupants randomly opening shooting.
Experiences like that stay with a person.
I am a proud union supporter!
If ytou can watch, listen to or read today”s Democracy Now special with Amy Goodman, featuring the late Utah Phillips!
http://www.democracynow.org/
Best. Labor Day. Thread. Ever.
I’ve been away from the flats for awhile, and am starting over w/ a new name. Just wanted to post the link to the text of the president’s education speech.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/MediaResources/PreparedSchoolRemarks/
In the fabulous music video at the beginning of this thread, my home town, Bisbee AZ, is in the seventh photo fro where the music starts playing. The photo is of Main Street, and many of the buildings shown in the picture are still standing and recognizable today. In 1917, Bisbee mine owners, backed up by a vigilante committee of “good citizens” rounded up almost 3,000 miners. Their “crime” was that they were members of the Industrial Workers of the World, a labor organization whose goal was to unionize all the workers of the world into “One Big Union”. The miners were marched 8 miles to the Warren ballpark, where they were imprisoned. They were then loaded into freight train cars, taken across the border to New Mexico with no food or water, and dumped out in the desert. This still stands as the largest single incident of kidnapping and illegal detention in our nation’s history, and not one citizen of Bisbee was ever brought up on charges. UUnion membership is something many of us take for granted. At one time, you might have had to pay your dues with your life.
overtime
minimum wage
workers rights
workers safety laws
child labor laws
40 hr work week
I know I am preaching to the choir at this website, but we must never forget what our union brothers and sisters have brought to us. Life changes and I am no longer a union member but a medium size business owner that is proud to say, that though not unionized, my workers get paid OVER union scale and have very good benefits, if they ever choose to unionize–I would not fight, but look within myself on why and what I am not doing for them. Happy healthy employees are productive employees. Happy labor day everyone, but let us not forget those who suffered and even died for the average american worker.
At 22 I was fired from a job when the horrid owners of the security company I worked for learned I was shopping for a union for our workers. I had been nominated because I was the expendable one. Young, no kids, etc. I gladly took on the task. Word got out and one day I came in to work after having been out sick for a day. Owner called me in and asked for my doctor’s excuse. I laughed, thinking he was joking. When I realized he was he was serious I asked why I’d need an excuse. He answers that it’s the rule and in the handbook.
Right then, I knew something was weird because I was the one who did updates for the handbook and I knew there was nothing like that in there.
Conveniently, he just happened to have a handbook on the desk opened to the page with a newly added rule of , “employee must bring doctor’s excuse”. I was livid. Then he goes on to say that I can’t come back to work without one. When I asked (seethingly) how he expected me to get one when I hadn’t needed to see a doctor and there had never been such a rule before ,he sarcastically said, “who knows? maybe you have a neighbor that’s a dr. who happened to see you yesterday. ”
Long story but I tried to fight it but they won. Then they contested my unemployment claim and lied to the labor board. I lost my benefits. The bosses wife claimed to have been in the office the day I called in and said she told me about the dr’s excuse. This woman was barely ever in the office and certainly not on the night shift. She got her secretary to say she was there as well. (a sectry working the night shift? i don’t think so!)
I wrote to everyone I could think of. Made phone calls. Sent a letter to the editor of the paper. (wouldn’t print it ) Called the Sonitrol Security corp office. Nothing worked. These folks were big in Buffalo and donated tons of money to big causes. No one cared that they treated their employees horribly. No one cared that they lied and took my job.
So, since that day I’ve never worked for a big company. The last place I worked for was a small internet firm who got gobbled up by a big corp that fired everyone except me and the boss. I was given the chance to make some seriously good money but I couldn’t / wouldn’t work for pirates.
Instead, I went into business for myself and make only enough to just get by. But, I’ve never been happier and if the corp came back and offered me the job today I’d still say no. I’d rather live on homemade soup and not have a car than make a ton of money and sell my life hours to a company that only cares about the bottom line.
That’s my Labor Day story! Hope everyone’s having a good one!
Here’s my favorite song along these lines. Hot Dog, think I’ll go dig out my old Pete Seeger records!!
BANKS OF MARBLE
I’ve traveled ’round this country
from shore to shining shore
It really made me wonder
the things I heard and saw
I saw the weary farmer
plowing sod and loam
l heard the auction hammer
just a-knocking down his home
But the banks are made of marble
with a guard at every door
and the vaults are stuffed with silver
that the farmer sweated for
I’ve seen the weary miner
scrubbing coal dust from his back
I heard his children cryin’
“Got no coal to heat the shack”
But the banks are made of marble
with a guard at every door
and the vaults are stuffed with silver
that the miner sweated for
I’ve seen my brothers working
throughout this mighty land
l prayed we’d get together
and together make a stand
Then we might own those banks of marble
with a guard at every door
and we might share those vaults of silver
that we have sweated for
Every time I hear some fool bashing the unions, bashing “liberals” in general, I want to tell them: “Enjoy your 40-hour work week? Worker’s Comp? A minimum wage? The fact that your 12-year-old ain’t working in a factory? Well, thank a union and thank a liberal.” Here’s my favorite labour song, from the massive coal miner’s strikes in England in the 1980’s”
“I was a miner, I was a docker,
I was a train driver between the wars.
I raised a family in times of austerity,
We swept at the factory between the wars.
I paid the union, and as times got harder
I looked to the government to help the working man.
And they brought prosperity – down at the armory,
We’re arming for peace, my boys, between the wars.
I kept the faith and I kept voting
Not for the iron fist, but for a helping hand.
For theirs is a land with a wall around it,
And mine is a faith in my fellow man.
Theirs is a land of hope and glory,
Mine is the green field and the facotry floor.
Theirs is a sky all dark with bombers,
And mine is the peace we knew between the wars.
Call up the craftsman, bring in the draftsman,
Build me a path that leads from cradle to grave,
And I will give my consent to any government
That won’t deny a man a living wage.
Go find the young men, never to fight again,
Bring out the banners from the days gone by.
Sweet moderation, heart of this nation,
Desert us not, we are between the wars.”
by Billy Bragg
One place CINO’s are active are on school boards. It’s the bottoms up way of taking over the GOP.
Here’s an example I just received by email:
“Templeton Unified School District Board Member David LaRue has written a letter to TUSD Superintendent Dr. Bowers and the school board threatening to take disciplinary action against administrators and teachers who devote any time to President Obama’s speech Tuesday (regardless of the outcome of a special board meeting that LaRue is convening Tuesday at 7:45 a.m.) If your schedule permits, teachers are asking that you make every attempt to attend this meeting to voice your opinion, regardless of which side of the issue you may lie. They would like to see this be a community decision made by many, not just the few.”
Here’s a link to the boards email account just in case any mudpuppies would like to tell members what they think of this whole matter.
http://tusd.ca.schoolloop.com/cms/page_view?d=x&piid=&vpid=1249305198494
I just sent them my opinion. I don’t know how the other members stand but I told them what I think in polite language.
If I get up early I just might go to express my outrage at this censorship of a President of the United States.
((((((((Shadow’s Heart)))))))))))
Twitter is so busy today that I can’t get the site to load on my computer. I hope its a bunch of Mudflatters Tweeting the Twits and signing up to let sparks fly from their fingertips!!
Right again AKM. Especially right now when so many of the very people who will be screwed over by the big insurance companies are raging against a program designed to help them! So many people today take their 5 day work week and their paid holidays and their decent wages for granted. They have no memory of what it took to get those things. They don’t get that corporations don’t care about individuals and will not treat people well unless they are forced to. Sad.
GreatGranny2B – Thank you so much for your kind words. Although it doesn’t sound it I really have been blessed this last year. My landlord reduced my rent by $90 so I could at least by some food and I got on the utilities program sponsored by the state. But there is no way I could afford Cobra it would have eaten a third of my rent money so I have no insurance as so many others don’t across the country. If it wasn’t for these little bits of good luck I would have been homeless months ago.
Shadows Heart, all fingers, toes and anything else I can cross and twist to wish you very good luck.
Oh goodness Shadow’s Heart – You certainly have all of our prayers! Is there a chance you qualify for an extension to the 18 month mark? I don’t know the ins and outs of it but will ask my husband when he gets home. His plant has layed off 90% of the workers and as the manager, he’s been going through some depressing times as he cares for these young people with families and no jobs. Unemployment only goes so far and most cannot afford the COBRA insurance, even with the discounts available. I have heard him mention that some had the additional extension, so will see what I can find out for you – and any others that may need it. Best of luck to you.
Just a pup here. Don’t really do much but listen. Shadow;s Heart what kind of work you looking for? Love, Luck, Laughter & Learn to everyone who is in need.
lettersfromeurope, as well as being called the woman with the union card, I’d be more than proud to call you an American. I can’t say the same for those who have destroyed the lives of real Americans in the name of profit. Having lost my job as an indirect result of manufacturing moving overseas, I know first hand what it does to humans. Bottom line, to me, is we should be taxing any business that moves overseas to the max.
Make it uneconomical for them to move, and bring the jobs back home, where they should be. That’s my labor day wish.
And Shadow’s Heart, keep the faith, and I hope your interview brings you a job.
Janet From Another Planet Says:
September 7th, 2009 at 5:55 AM
“I live in a paper mill town.”
So sorry Janet, I too know GP. 24 years in a papermill was enough for me. The Koch brothers, new owners of GP are much worse than Marshall Hahn or Pete Correll ever were.
Ok mudpups I need your prayers, wishes and whatever other voodoo that you do do so well. I’ve been out of work for the past year and my unemployment will be exhausted in a week or two. I had a job interview two weeks ago and I’m suppose to find out Wednesday if I have the job so cross your fingers, eyes, toes whatever will work and hope I get hired. Otherwise I’ll be one of those homeless statistics we keep hearing about. Although please be careful you don’t hurt yourself, I carry enough guilt around already I don’t need no more by thinking a mudpup got bruised and battered on my account. : )
Link to YouTube clips from “Norma Rae”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qilQ_gfm3w
My union story: Nearly 30 years ago I Joined the NEA, Alaska Education Association, and Village Education Association within 2 years of getting first job. I was too young and too idealistic to place importance on salary and benefits. What got me going was witnessing the victimization of fellow workers by a petty, powerful school administrator, and how the union reps coached us through filing a grievance, effectively supporting the targeted worker, and ulitmately prevailing to save this person’s job and sanity. That process taught us how to work together, how to stage and win public battles, and ultimately how to get a better superintendent by participating in his/her hire.
I immediately began to encourage all coworkers to join and I still am a member and supporter. I never forgot the lessons learned: the powerful must be forced to be fair and just by the strength of numbers who adhere to the principles and laws that support the rights of workers.
@Janet From Another Planet – My name is also Janet and that was the name my co-workers dubbed many years ago along with a few others that are better left unmentioned. LOL
When I think of unions, I think of the movie “Norma Rae” starring Sally Field.
Since I grew up not knowing much about my family back ground while doing genealogy research I found most of my family and relatives worked for the silk mills up in Paterson New Jersey and were all union workers. It was kind of spooky since I too worked for a union for the last 29 years. I was carrying on a family tradition and didn’t even know it at the time.
Thank you, Aussie Blue Sky. for the reminder of the strength of the women of earlier generations whose struggles against domination by Those Who Rule make many of our own contributions look meager.
But it is also time to recall, not only on this particular day, that small voices combine into a shout that can be heard.
I live in a paper mill town. Here’s my story.
Georgia Pacific threatened to close our mill even though their own yearly reports showed a profit. They claimed that the mill wasn’t economical, the machines were too old to be competitive, and the union contracts made labor costs too high. So the union members agreed to take pay cuts and work more overtime. They also agreed that they would work harder to make the mill the most profitable in one in the Northeast. Everybody in got behind the effort to keep the mill open. The state helped with a waste wood burner to cut the cost of electricity to the mill. The town extended low interest loans to help pay off mill debts and the mill workers increased productivity every year for three years. At the end of the three years GP gave 400 workers two weeks notice, locked the doors of the mill, refused to pay their back taxes and left the state. They never said thanks; not to the state, not to the town and not to the union members that had busted their butts to make that mill the most profitable one in the Northeast. They took with them all paper making machines they claimed were obsolete.
Ahhhh…the memories.
My father was a machinist, underground, in a Southwestern Pennsylvania coal mine for forty years, his father shod the mules in the same mine for his forty years in it. I can remember the dismantling of the Company Store and the fun we kids had buying stuff there that we only wistfully gazed upon until the last strike that forced its closing…things like ice cream sandwiches, tiny wax soda bottles filled with sugar water, a small box of salted pumpkin seeds.
To this day, there is a hushed and awed reverence that accompanies the speaking of the name of John L. Lewis—hard as the man was.
Mother, who is 88 years old, pays not a dime for her health care through the United Mine Workers’ Union…even today. Daddy’s heart bypass was paid in full, years later his home care for 7 years was completely covered.
Are we surprised that the unions support health care reform? They are the groups who fought so hard to get health insurance and now the cost of it is taking it away from them.
Remind your representatives that caring for our sick is the price we pay for being human…and it’s little enough to ask.
Remind them today, tomorrow, and the next day, and the next.
Also a time to remember “The Woman Behind the New Deal”
“Frances Perkins was the U.S. Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945, and the first woman appointed to the U.S. Cabinet. As a loyal supporter of her friend, Franklin D. Roosevelt, she helped pull the labor movement into the New Deal coalition. She and Interior Secretary Harold Ickes were the only original members of the Roosevelt cabinet who remained in offices for his entire presidency.
During her term as Secretary of Labor, Perkins championed many aspects of the New Deal. With The Social Security Act she established unemployment benefits, pensions for the many uncovered elderly Americans, and welfare for the poorest Americans. She pushed to reduce workplace accidents and helped craft laws against child labor. Through the Fair Labor Standards Act, she established the first minimum wage and overtime laws for American workers, and defined the standard 40-hour work week. She formed governmental policy for working with labor unions and helped to alleviate strikes by way of the United States Conciliation Service.” [from wikipedia}
A book about Frances Perkins was published this year:
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385513654
Thanks AKM, great clip. I’ve always had a passion for the old west. It was such a hard life. After all the hardships those that came before us had to endure, it always make me wonder how they even survived.
Oh, the stories I was privileged to hear from my husband’s older brothers and their labor union organizer friends. In the seventies and early eighties we would hang out around our campers and the old men would reminisce about their trials and tribulations while organizing in the 30’s and early 40’s and their later successes at mediation between the United Mine Workers Union and the large corporations owning the mines and smelters.
They recounted their early attempts to organize the Southern cotton mill town in which they were raised. They were ambushed, blindfolded, tied to trees in the middle of the night. Shots were fired before the company goons left each one thinking he was the only one left alive. They were untied in the morning by some neighbor on his way to work. Not only did they have to leave immediately, but the younger brothers were blacklisted. It was many years later that their suspicions were confirmed: the men who intimidated them were carried on the payroll as working their shift.
Those mens’ lives and stories after that night took on different geographic turns. There were those of the bald mountain moon scapes of Southeastern Tennessee to the gold mine of Deadwood ND, to the smelters of Idaho and the copper mines in Arizona. We revisited all of them as a group. Many recollections were horrifying, not merely in the intentional cruelties of owners to keep workers in line, but of systemic health problems of the workers in the mines and the smelters. Yet, the real and most enduring horror are the environmental consequences which draw even wider circles, and which are repeated over and again.
These old men are long gone, but my admiration for them remains.
The greed and ruthlessness of unbridled capitalism knows no bounds, we all have become too cowed and apathetic for the good of all as we refuse to learn from history: “Panem et circensis”, “Bread and Games”, was a motto of the Roman Empire. We would do well to remember this analogy at the begin of another sports season, as history repeats itself for another “deja vu again”.
Thank you AKM and friends for the reminder of past struggles.
It takes great courage to confront unbridled power.
Looking beyond our own pleasures and considering the needs of others is one way to begin the process of honoring that courage.
A thought for this Labor Day: There is Strength in Resilience! Use it!
Glad you like the name. It was given to me by the very conservative members of a very conservative chat room where I was the only liberal. LOL
What happened when laborers tried to form unions.
The Ludlow massacre refers to the violent deaths of 20 people, 11 of them children, during an attack by the Colorado National Guard on a tent colony of 1,200 striking coal miners and their families at Ludlow, Colorado on April 20, 1914. These deaths occurred after a day-long fight between strikers and the Guard. Two women, eleven children, six miners and union officials and one National Guardsman were killed.
Everyone should know the history of the Coal Wars in Colorado to fully appreciate what happens when there are no checks on corporations.
Ludlow massacre monument
This was the bloodiest event in the 14-month 1913-1914 southern Colorado Coal Strike. The strike was organized by the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) against coal mining companies in Colorado. The three biggest mining companies were the Rockefeller family-owned Colorado Fuel & Iron Company (CF&I), the Rocky Mountain Fuel Company (RMF), and the Victor-American Fuel Company (VAF). Ludlow, located 12 miles (19 km) northwest of Trinidad, Colorado, is now a ghost town. The massacre site is owned by the UMWA, which erected a granite monument, in memory of the striking miners and their families who died that day.[1]
The site of the Ludlow Massacre was designated a National Historic Landmark on January 16, 2009, and dedicated on June 28, 2009.[1]
Janet From Another Planet….I love your username. 🙂
Why we need unions- The Triangle shirtwaist factory fire tragedy
And there is my favorite.
Union Maid- Woody Guthrie
There once was a union maid, Who never was afraid
Of the goons and gink and the company finks
And the deputy sheriffs that made the raids
She went to the Union hall, When a meeting it was called
And when the company boys came around
She always stood her ground
(Chorus)
Oh you can’t scare me, I’m a stickin’ to the union (X3)
Oh, you can’t scare me, I’m stickin’ to the union
Till the day I die
Thanks for a historical perspective on the day and to all of you for reminding me that there are still people out there who don’t think union is a dirty word. Workers Unite!
Part of the Union by Strawbs lyrics:
Now I’m a union man
Amazed at what I am
I say what I think, that the company stinks
Yes I’m a union man
When we meet in the local hall
I’ll be voting with them all
With a hell of a shout, it’s “Out brothers, out!”
And the rise of the factory’s fall
Oh, you don’t get me, I’m part of the union
You don’t get me, I’m part of the union
You don’t get me, I’m part of the union
Until the day I die
Until the day I die
The union has made me wise
To the lies of the company spies
And I don’t get fooled by the factory rules
’cause I always read between the lines
And I always get my way
If I strike for higher pay
When I show my card to the Scotland Yard
And this is what I say:
Oh, oh, you don’t get me, I’m part of the union
You don’t get me, I’m part of the union
You don’t get me, I’m part of the union
Until the day I die
Until the day I die
Before the union did appear
My life was half as clear
Now I’ve got the power to the working hour
And every other day of the year
So though I’m a working man
I can ruin the government’s plan
And though I’m not hard, the sight of my card
Makes me some kind of superman
Oh, oh, oh, you don’t get me, I’m part of the union
You don’t get me, I’m part of the union
You don’t get me, I’m part of the union
Until the day I die
Until the day I die
You don’t get me, I’m part of the union
You don’t get me, I’m part of the union
You don’t get me, I’m part of the union
Until the day I die
Until the day I die
Dear Jammer5:
“Oh workers can you stand it?
Oh tell me how you can?
Will you be a lousy scab
Or will you be a man?
Don’t scab for the bosses,
Don’t listen to their lies.
Us poor folks haven’t got a chance
Unless we organize.”
You can call me the woman with a union card.
Wow- well that’s going to haunt me for the day. Hit me on so many levels, including the points mentioned by Jammer @8.
For those of you with Twitter accts, MomMom got set up yesterday at :
http://twitter.com/moremommom
For those who would like to join Twitter but are not sure how it works or the point of having an acct, drop me a line at PalinNews @ gmail . com ( take the spaces out )
Mae Lewis on yesterday’s open thread, around the @90 point – great advice about notifying the credit card company before traveling! I hope you’ll reshare your story with samper when she finally gets back and decompresses.
Happy Labor Day everyone! Relax and Enjoy!
There is a lot to be thankful for today, but there is also a lot to be down right ticked off about. It seems at times we’re going backwards as laborers in this country. While we’re getting laid off left and right, the bosses are packing their mattresses with the blood of us workers. And whenever we complain about it, we’re called commies, socialists, etc., and the people doing the name calling are workers themselves. Fear and loathing in America: what a legacy.
The perfect Labor Day song is “Part of the Union” by the Strawbs!
The Strawbs on YouTube:
http://tinyurl.com/dbgc6h
I recently learned how to play it, and it’s fun to play.
AKM – thank you for that video clip and, lettersfromeurope, thank you for providing the words.
To all my American cousins – have a great Labor Day.
Excellent clip, AKM. The struggles of the labor movement – and the horrifically callous conditions which precipitated it – deserves much more historical attention than it receives. It is an important reminder of the true nature that dwells within the heart of the corporate beasts. With so many of us engaged in the current struggle for health insurance reform and the information coming out about the callous disregard for our humanity shown by today’s insurance corporations, it is helpful to have the historical perspective that the same callousness has been prevalent throughout all of our industrialized history. Our fight for health insurance reform is, in a very real way, another chapter in the ongoing struggle for social justice waged in the face of corporate greed that was fought – and won – by the labor movement. Those brave souls who fought for social justice then set the bar high, and gave an inspirational example for us to follow now. We all benefit from the legacy of their struggles. It is now up to us to leave a legacy of fair and just health care access to the generations who follow us. Rest today and reflect on their struggles for inspiration. We still have much to do and the strength of our own resolve will be tested.
Thanks! Of course I watched more than the youtube video suggested. I also enjoyed Pete Seger singing, ‘Solidarity Forever’ on another clip choice.
Workers, enjoy a day off, especially if you have work to do.
For those that want to sing along:
our father was a union man
some day i´ll be one,too
the bosses fired daddy,
waht´s our family gonna do?
come all you good workers
good news to you i´ll tell
of how the good old union
has come in here to dwell
chorus:
which side are you on?
which side are you on?
my daddy was a miner
and i´m a miner´s son
and i´ll stick with the union
´til every battles won
they saw in harlan county
there are no neutrals there
you´ll either be a union man
or a thug for j.h. blair
Come all you good workers,
Good news to you I’ll tell
Of how the good old union
Has come in here to dwell.
CHORUS:
Which side are you on?
Which side are you on?
Which side are you on?
Which side are you on?
My dady was a miner,
And I’m a miner’s son,
And I’ll stick with the union
‘Til every battle’s won.
They say in Harlan County
There are no neutrals there.
You’ll either be a union man
Or a thug for J. H. Blair.
Oh workers can you stand it?
Oh tell me how you can?
Will you be a lousy scab
Or will you be a man?
Don’t scab for the bosses,
Don’t listen to their lies.
Us poor folks haven’t got a chance
Unless we organize.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread_and_Roses
“As we go marching, marching, we battle too for men,
For they are women’s children, and we mother them again.
Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes;
Hearts starve as well as bodies; give us bread, but give us roses”
www(dot)youtube (dot)com (pust a slash here) watch?v=qbtHlxGK5fA&hl=de
Thank you for that – wonderful.