Labor Day / Labor Unions

[Salty]

This weekend we are celebrating Labor Day.

Exactaly who/what are we celebrating?
A) Labor Unions
B) Labor Union workers
C) All Workers

According to the Fed - There are only about 14 million union members in the US - which equates to about 11.8% of the work force.
Considering a large number include Govt employees - the actual Blue Collar members is very small.
What do make of these stats?
Salty

PS

Will Say one thing for Labor Day - its the ONLY holiday that should only be on a Monday

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

Given that nearly 80% of the work force is in the service industry, including government workers, Labor Day isn't for labor anymore. It's another excuse to take a holiday for underworked, overpaid employees across the spectrum of U.S. employment.

 

[saturneptune]

Given that nearly 80% of the work force is in the service industry, including government workers, Labor Day isn't for labor anymore. It's another excuse to take a holiday for underworked, overpaid employees across the spectrum of U.S. employment.

That statement makes no sense. Who is underworked and overpaid? What is wrong with the service industry? People are in general trying to earn a living to support a family. What is it you do that is so glorious compared to the 80% that are underworked and overpaid?

 

[Salty]

That statement makes no sense. Who is underworked and overpaid? What is wrong with the service industry? People are in general trying to earn a living to support a family. What is it you do that is so glorious compared to the 80% that are underworked and overpaid?

I work on the graveyard shift at a C-store. some of the employees are taking a 10 minute break every hour to go out and smoke (no indoor smoking allowed in NY). Several of them only do the bare minium -

I dont think that TNC is saying that ALL employees are lazy - but way too many are.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

I dont think that TNC is saying that ALL employees are lazy - but way too many are.

Yeah, that. Thanks. Most service jobs are government jobs. Think "DMV."

 

[church mouse guy]

I don't think that Labor Day has any meaning anymore. My dad was a member of a dysfunctional union for 35 years so I read a lot of union magazines. POTUS such as LBJ would go to Cadillac Square in Detroit, a former city, and address the unions. You used to hear what the labor movement had done for the USA on Labor Day.

Now all of that is gone.

Labor Day parades are not worth seeing because there are so few union members anymore, even here in the rust belt. Nowadays most union workers are government employees.

When I worked for the old money crowd for a decade, I found that the bosses now like Labor Day more than anyone else because they always took about a week off, leaving on Wednesday before and returning on Wednesday afterwards.

Labor Day is now just about barbecue and partying, just like most other American holidays. It is just a 3-day weekend.