Labor Day: History of Labor Day
by LauraLoo
I am so grateful to be employed in this fragile economy. Remembering the genesis of labor laws, as well as the physical hardships of workers who oftentimes worked in hot plant environments, I am once again reminded that my worst day in my air-conditioned office can never compare to what these workers endured (and what some still endure today).
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZkq7d4lyrw[/youtube]
Do you have any work stories to share — your favorite job, your worst job? Have you ever worked in both a plant and office environment and, if so, how would you compare the challenges of each?
My favorite job was being a stenographer (typing and shorthand). Home base was in a Steno pool with other newly graduated high-school girls, ready to be deployed to cover absentee secretaries or to do the overflow of typing needed for the Corporation. The most challenging jobs I’ve ever had was Executive Assistant to the President/Owner of an insurance company and my current position – processing payroll for about 1,200 employees.
Email LauraLoo with your Lunch Break suggestions.
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
Can’t say I’ve ever had it tough, workwise. I did have a very corrupt boss once, when I worked in DVD rent, we worked more hours than full-time and been paid for less than part-time, he’d also charge us if the clients stole the DVD’s and didn’t return them. But the crew was awesome and we were able to make it up in other ways (sneaky parties at work, making money “on the side”, etc), so overall it wasn’t bad.
Favourite job – ESL (English as Second Language) teaching assistant in a primary school in London! Awesome job, can’t say a single negative thing about it :)
I’m a “blue collar worker” and have always worked in landscape installation and I love what I do, being outdoors all the time, but thankfully I no longer have to do trenching for irrigation systems…it sucks big time. Been there, done that.
I’ve heard enough horror stories about office work that would curl your hair.
I hate it when I have to spend a day in our office/trailer doing paperwork. The phones, the noise, catfights among the girls…NO THANK YOU !!!
My dad was in the tile and marble business. I grouted tile floors in an airport one summer and thought THAT was worse than anything.
My hardest job has actually been my most fun one: in charge of arts and crafts at a summer farm camp.
If anyone is familiar with the Florida heat and humidity, it was all that and more. Plus, I had to contend with horses that liked to munch on art supplies as well as making sure not to step in chicken poop, which was in abundance.
The best part was seeing kids in their element. They literally went bonkers exploring the farm, holding chickens, cleaning out stalls, riding ponies, and donkey carts.
Hot, good times.
Hm, I work a healthy mix of labor and office jobs (I freelance in technical theater) and I’ve never seen any catfights amongst “girls,” even though the production management company I most frequently work with is owned by a woman and made up of exactly 50% women (it’s a small enough company for that to just be chance – not quota filling or anything).
I think my worst job ever was right after I left college. I spent six months working at a desk job in a corporate investment firm. Not one of the fancy banky jobs that makes lots of money; I worked in a support position. Basically I scheduled and booked conference rooms and interviews, which was a MASSIVE job even though it doesn’t sound like it. There were six floors in the NYC office alone, plus we rolled the NJ office into our system; and I could go into the London office system to book both ends of videoconferences etc. Then I had to make sure that all the amenities were specific to the type of meeting – tech needs (videoconferencing stuff, etc), catering needs (coffee for interviews, full lunch for large meetings, etc). I had six lines and they were always full, plus I remember watching streams of e-mail pour into my inbox while I was on the phone with any given person. THEN on top of it all, each person expected me to remember their personal preferences – in a mere branch of thousands, in a company with many branches. I would try to remember for my “regulars” – look up where their office was and schedule a room nearby, at least, to be nice – but MAN some people were jerks. One guy lost his London conference-call connection with someone and he called me because he didn’t know who to call in the IT department. I said that I would transfer him to IT and he asked me to just look up the London employee’s phone number and reconnect them but the guy had a crazy last name and I couldn’t find it (started with an S sound but when I eventually found it, later that evening on my own time out of curiosity, it began Cz and only got worse from there). The guy on the phone SCREAMED at me and asked how I’d ever graduated from kindergarten!
I left that job with no other prospects lined up. I was just so miserable. I had worked at summer theater festivals when I was in college so I figured I could go back there, and thus had three months of (low-paying) work to fall back on for the summer, and after that I’d figure out a plan. One job led to the next and here I am, five years later – I guess it’s a career now! Every time I get the next job lined up, though, I feel like this is actually the last one I’ll get before I need to finally figure out that “plan.” I love what I do but I’ve been very lucky to be successful at it.
Currently I’m working in a labor capacity, after two years on a very long project in a management position. I don’t mind getting dirty. My parents’ garage collapsed in the hurricane so I have spent just about every spare hour at their place. The garage floor is covered in four inches of mud and it took a long time to build a stud wall, get everything out, dismantle the old shelves in preparation for repairing the walls, etc; plus loading the truck (two trips with a 24′ truck) and unloading it at the storage garage. Dirty, tiring stuff, but at the end of the day, dirt comes off and sleep is free, so I don’t really mind it.
Speaking of labor, I just saw that Teamster union president Jimmy Hoffa Jr., son of the late Teamster boss and thug extraordinaire Jimmy Hoffa, who was finally offed by the mob, is referring to Tea Party people as “sons of b—-es”.
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
The only thing that surprised Detroiters about Hoffa Sr.’s untimely demise was that it took the mob so long to kill him.
I wonder if the Democrats plan to say anything about this kind of incivility as organized labor are big Democrat supports who donate millions to Democrat candidates, or that of Democrat Maxine Waters who said the Tea Party can “go to h—“.
Worst job I ever had in terms of hard and unrewarding work and low pay was being a waitress right out of high school. I was also unfortunately the world’s klutziest waitress, dropping almost as many plates as I got to the table, so not many tips for me.
Our restaurant specialized in pancakes with different kinds of syrup. Once I tripped and crashed to the floor while carrying a pitcher of strawberry syrup. I was covered in red from top to toe. My boss came running up and I thought he was going to be really mad, but he was very solicitous. He kept saying I should go get bandaged, and see a doctor. I couldn’t understand why – “It’s just strawberry syrup” I kept saying. Turns out that yes, it was blood: I had cut myself on the broken glass and was fortunate I didn’t need stitches. I don’t like thinking of those days at all. I have a lot of respect for waiters and waitresses, and they deserve all the tips they earn and more, but it was just never going to be the work for me.
Later I got into college on a scholarship and I felt at the top of the world essentially being paid to do my favorite thing – read and study. I stretched it out for as many years as I could in graduate school, without ever having much in the way of a full-time job when I finally got my Ph.D. I then very few jobs in the library field I had chosen and I didn’t think I’d be good at teaching. Those were lean years.
But things turned out well, and I love the job I have now — using the language skills I acquired in my studies to do translations from home and working on my documentary and the book I want to finish, while trying to keep my little publishing company afloat. Best of all, no strawberry syrup in sight!
Hi Lori Peiper,
Your post reminds me of when a very young waitress at our local pancake house tripped and sent blueberry syrup and pancakes right down the back of a customer. He was wearing a sweater so of course it was wrecked. The poor girl was just in tears and the customer was furious. I would think he could be a little more charitable, its not like she did it on purpose or the restaurant wouldn’t pay for any damage.
To everyone: I’ve really enjoyed reading your memories.
Mary, yes I saw the Hoffa comment on Drudge Report.
My worst job, first job …working as a secretary for the manager of an international hotel. He was a friend of the family and chased me around the office!!!
Best job – home educating our sons during their formative years …
Lori: I have a lot of respect for waiters and waitresses, and they deserve all the tips they earn and more
Right on.
Was a bricklayer for 7 years. Not a bad job, and it’s good to be able to do it, but Mike – I hear you about grouting tile floors… :(
27 years now working on electrical transformers and the oil they contain. Interesting, boring, easy, hard, lots to see since lots of travel. Some of the ‘worsts’: a tire factory where they used carbon black – this is infinitely fine and powdery, it goes right through your clothes and you end up *so* dirty. Papermills, sometimes, where they bleach wood pulp and perhaps there’s all this really stinky “pulp liquor” around. I’ve seen people vomit just from the smell. And it’s slimy and totally gross – a tank overflowed once, and the mill used a front-end loader to scoop it up off the parking lot. All fine and good so far, but there was a hole about 3 feet deep that was still full of the stuff, then our boss stepped into it, went in up to his waist ahahahaaa!!! We near died, laughing.
The cold, Canadian prairie in the winter, wind blowing. The hot, southern Louisiana in the summer, up on top of an aluminum smelter precipitator building, not a puff of air moving. The room below is extremely toasty, and the roof is hot enough to burn you, through your shoes. You’re 125 feet in the air and you had to carry hoses and equipment all the way up…
Mary: I wonder if the Democrats plan to say anything about this kind of incivility as organized labor are big Democrat supports who donate millions to Democrat candidates, or that of Democrat Maxine Waters who said the Tea Party can “go to h—”.
Mary, markets, politics, etc., are studies in human emotion going from one extreme to the other.
My worst job was as student in an office where I was sexually harassed – before there were laws about that kind of stuff. I often wonder about the man who terrorized me – he dropped dead in his garden some years ago.
Best job is my current job for which I’m eternally grateful to God. But I’ve had another job in another career that I especially loved too – I got to travel a great deal and meet many people.
We should remember the men and women who died in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire 100 years ago. That tragedy was the beginning of real change in labor laws in North America.
angel I totally agree with you on remembering the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire! That really was a turning point in terms of legal protection of workers.
Your post reminds me of when a very young waitress at our local pancake house tripped and sent blueberry syrup and pancakes right down the back of a customer. He was wearing a sweater so of course it was wrecked. The poor girl was just in tears and the customer was furious. I would think he could be a little more charitable, its not like she did it on purpose or the restaurant wouldn’t pay for any damage.
Yes, that poor girl . . . I’m just glad that I just hurt myself and ruined my own uniform, not someone else’s clothes.
Of course the humiliation in front of a whole room full of people is a big part of it.
Angel and Alexandra,
I agree — what terrible tragedy at the Triangle Shirtwaist factory. I live in New York and have gone past the spot where it happened. They just recently had a Mass for the anniversary remembering the victims.
I saw a terrific documentary about the fire not long ago on Netflix — wish I could remember the name of it. It detailed how the women at the factory had been protesting and trying to get better working conditions for years, and only when so many people died did they change things.
Worst job ever: working for the EPA. Next to nothing got accomplished in that facility! The clock crawled. Any effort to do something useful in terms of research was blocked by mounds of paperwork.
My job in pharmacy is hectic, stressful, and time flies. I’m satisfied with that, since the work product is worthwhile.
Working for PFLI is also just fine, but that’s for free.
My large scale gardening is also fine, but the three inch hornets are a bit of a hassle. This year the corn failed, but the tubular fruits (zucchini, cucumbers and half runners) have been abundant.
Check what Teamster leader, Jimmy Hoffa Jr had to say during his Labor Day observances, this year.
I was talked into a temporary job working for surveyors at the Great Swamp in New Jersey when I was very young. Another kid and I had to machete our way through the weeds so they could get the line of sight. The other kid (who was in much better shape) didn’t show up the next day, leaving just me.
I was never so exhausted. At lunchtime I weakly drew “I quit” on the dirty back windshield. I doubt they ever saw it. I walked two miles to the nearest train. Never complained about mowing or other household chores since!
Lori, I live in NYC as well – not far from you, now, although I lived in Queens for the last five years and was born in Brooklyn. I nearly mentioned some of the really good coverage of the 100th anniversary – I’m glad you did! I just got Netflix so I’ll look for that documentary.
I had a book when I was about 8 or so, about some of the nation’s worst fires. (FAIL, parents – it had graphic pictures and I was traumatized!) That was where I learned about the Triangle Shirtwaist fire and I was so horrified that I assumed I must be misunderstanding something. I asked my parents and we went to the library and researched it – I got a bit obsessed – the details really stuck with me. While I don’t support all unions, or everything any union does, I am part of a union and I am so very grateful for the basic protections granted to me, and so grateful to the people who fought to put them in place.
Hans, LOL (the way you wrote it was funny).
At lunchtime I weakly drew “I quit” on the dirty back windshield. I doubt they ever saw it.
Hi Doug, 8:18PM
Put simply, Tea Party people are vitriolic, hateful, and intolerant.The vitriol of Democrats and their cronies are just studies in human emotion, as influenced by markets, and politics.
Thank you for clarifying that Doug. I can honestly say I would never have come to that realization on my own.
Hi Pharmer 10:12PM
I actually heard Jimmy Hoffa Jr. on TV. Knowing that late thug father of his, Hoffa Sr., its no surprise. Kindly refer to my 7:03PM post where I comment on the heritage of this charming gentleman.
What Hoffa said doesn’t much move me.
It’s that certain president of the US who’s “proud of him” and preaches civility that has me concerned.
I always thought being a waiter or waitress would be a horrible job to have. I can’t even begin to count how many times I’ve seen them be abused and disrespected by the patrons. People are rude enough as is, but they’re even WORSE when they’re hungry.
Too many people think the poor waiter or waitress is their own personal indentured servant for the hour they’re in there eating.
Pharmer, that’s interesting, my favorite job was at the EPA! I was a librarian in one of their libraries and loved it. After 8 years of staying home with my kids I’m looking to get back into a library job. (Actually if you include non-paying jobs, SAHM is my favorite.)
I would say my worst was the one night I spent loading packages onto a truck for UPS. Backbreaking!
The worst job I ever had was working as a lab technician/phelbotomist while I was in college. Low pay for hard, stressful work.
The best job I ever had was working as a receptionist at a medium sized business while I was in Grad School. I loved being helpful and friendly and meeting people, but when those people actually needed something or had a problem I could pass them on to someone else, ha ha. If I could make enough money to live on as a receptionist I would go back in a heartbeat.
I do love my current job, and I make a decent salary, so I can’t complain! The department I oversee consists of all women, and we have yet to have a “catfight.” Come to think of it, I have never encountered one at any of the many jobs I’ve had, and at almost all of those jobs I worked with more women than men. I wonder what goes on at Mike’s workplace!
Mary: Put simply, Tea Party people are vitriolic, hateful, and intolerant.The vitriol of Democrats and their cronies are just studies in human emotion, as influenced by markets, and politics.
Thank you for clarifying that Doug. I can honestly say I would never have come to that realization on my own.
Not put simply enough, Mary. It’s all the same thing. The Tea Party is a symptom of the pendulum swinging fairly far over to one side. Not to say it can’t go farther, but it won’t go nearly far enough to really “fix” our economy or the gov’t debt situation. Meanwhile, a backlash will build, and the Jimmy Hoffas and Maxine Waters will be at full volume. At some point the pendulum will start back the other way.
I think Hegel/Engels/Marx had it right – thesis, antithesis, synthesis. In practical terms, I also think we’re not so hot on the synthesis part; rather that we bounce back and forth between two things, even if it’s one political party being in power, having the Presidency, etc., then after a while we get tired or mad, and vote the other in.
Peg: I would say my worst was the one night I spent loading packages onto a truck for UPS. Backbreaking!
Yeah, if you’re not used to it… I worked for a farmer in the summers when I was High School age, and one time he tried growing popcorn, versus regular field corn. Okay, so far so good, but there were a few “volunteer” corn plants that came up from regular seed, and the farmer didn’t know that absolutely no non-popcorn corn could be tolerated.
I’d had to shovel a whole semi-truckload of the corn from a corncrib into an elevator which loaded the truck. When the truck got to the popcorn plant, the operators saw a few ears of field corn here and there, and they were going to reject the whole load. As a compromise, the truck dumped out right in a parking lot, and then I had to go up a couple days later and separate it all – picking out the bad stuff, and then again shoveling all the popcorn ears into a dang elevator….
Union YES!
Doug 1:28PM
Keep dreaming. Maxine and the other CBC members could better spend their time and energy improving the circumstances of their constituents instead of ranting as to how the Tea Party can go to hell, something their liberal Democrat policies have failed miserabley to do over the years. Someone should tell that one gal to dispense with those cowboy hats. They make her look as ridiculous as she sounds. Remember when those CBC clowns went to Cuba and slobbered over Castro, oblivious to the fact that “white” Cubans like Castro rule while black and racially mixed Cubans struggle to survive? I wonder if the average Cuban can afford to import Spanish doctors like Castro can.
Hey Doug, don’t you think its a real irony that it was the Democrats who persecuted Jimmy Hoffa’s father with a vengence and now Jimmy Jr. is a Democrat brownshirt? Politics does indeed may some interesting bed partners.
Hi phillymiss,
The Unions did indeed serve a purpose at one time, but they have since turned into the very evil they once stood against. Jimmy Hoffa Sr. wasn’t offed by the mob for praying too loudly in church, but rather because they liked the new puppet they had installed when Jimmy was in prison and didn’t want Jimmy back in power even though he had served them well, mainly by letting the mob get their hands on Teamster pension money.
The city of Detroit has a 47% functional literacy rate, as well as years of the Detroit Teachers’ Union.
Alexandra,
Interesting enough, just over a week aog, I was at my local library where I picked up and started reading Uprisng by Margaret Peterson Haddix (one of my favorite authors). It turned out Uprising was a fictional story based on the actual events of the Triangle Shirwaist Factory fire and the events leading up to it (including the union meeting & strike). Eventhough it is a children’s/young adult book, I was horrified by what I read and imagined occured and spent the rest of the afternoon researching and reading about the details of the work conditions, fire, and the worker’s deaths. The details bothered me for days after (and I find myself unable to pick up and finish reading the book). Indeed, we owe our debt of gratitude and thanks to those who endured working in those harsh conditions and who faught for the rights and safety we have today.
Very helpful thanks, I do believe your current followers could possibly want further well written articles like this maintain the good effort.
Keep dreaming. Maxine and the other CBC members could better spend their time and energy improving the circumstances of their constituents instead of ranting as to how the Tea Party can go to hell
Mary, no “dreaming” involved, but sure – there’s funny stuff and irony going on all the time. Plenty of ranters on both sides of the aisle, and right here on Jill’s site, for that matter. ;)
The pendulum keeps on swinging, just as you refer to with the unions – they rose, got to a position of max power, and then the pendulum started going back the other way.