Rec this if you think Walmart execs and other union-busters should have to work today.

[garybeck]

Hypocrites like Walmart (and Whole Foods?) execs and Republicans in general fight against union organizing and labor rights.

Yet today, they're all out on their yachts, taking the day off like everyone else.

The holiday is symbolic of the ongoing struggle for workers' rights, including the right to form unions and strike.

Those executives who are fighting against the rights of workers and against the right to form unions, and the mindless Republicans who speak against labor rights, should have to go to work today, IMHO.

A short history on the origins of Labor Day:

The holiday originated in Canada out of labor disputes ("Nine-Hour Movement") first in Hamilton, then in Toronto, Canada in the 1870s, which resulted in a Trade Union Act which legalized and protected union activity in 1872 in Canada. The parades held in support of the Nine-Hour Movement and the printers' strike led to an annual celebration in Canada. In 1882, American labor leader Peter J. McGuire witnessed one of these labor festivals in Toronto. Inspired from Canadian events in Toronto, he returned to New York and organized the first American "labor day" on September 5 of the same year.

The first Labor Day in the United States was celebrated on September 5, 1882 in New York City.<1> In the aftermath of the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the US military and US Marshals during the 1894 Pullman Strike, President Grover Cleveland put reconciliation with Labor as a top political priority. Fearing further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congress unanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike.<2> Cleveland was also concerned that aligning a US labor holiday with existing international May Day celebrations would stir up negative emotions linked to the Haymarket Affair.<3> All 50 U.S. states have made Labor Day a state holiday.

[DrDan]

1. it is not unlike Veteran's Day

As a vet, I find it reprehensible that i have yet to have Veteran's Day off as a holiday.

Who gets to celebrate that day - bank tellers, govt workers.

[xultar]

2. Using the rec feature as a vote for solidarity is an inaccurate use of the function.

Your thread would have made it to the greatest page without it quite handily. Why'd you mess it up with that tired tactic?

[napi21]

3. I find their attitude pretty odd! I worked for a large specialty retailer for 13 years,

and because lots of people go shopping on Labor Day, it was mandatory that EVERYONE work in a store that day. That included all our VP's, & the Chairman! Our Co. wasn't unionized, but we were hdq. in the NE and not in one of those RTW states. We weren't the only retailer who had that policy either. I knew of several other large retailers who had that same mandate.

[lunatica]

4. They work?

Give them a break. They can and I'm sure they do work just as hard from their Yachts. It's hard werk to not werk and look like you're werking. Just as Bush.

[Sherman A1]

5. The question I would ask is...

When will they start working at all? Beyond the obvious ways to increase their bottom lines and fat bonuses on the backs of the workers (they will happily work on that all day long).