Thursday, September 19, 2024
Things are a bit crazy here, and I didn’t think about the meaning of Labor Day before it occurred. The purpose of Labor Day seems lost in the observation of the holiday as the end of summer, and the chaos of back to school. Today, I did a little refresher for myself.
Labor Day is intended to honor workers; specifically union leaders, members and activists (some of whom were female,) who fought (sometimes literally) for living wages, safety, and decent working conditions in the late 1800’s. Back then, there were practically no laws of any kind protecting workers...if you were severely injured at work, you lost your job, and your employer was under no obligation to assist you whatsoever. You could be forced to work without time off as long as the employer wished; there was no overtime pay, and no unemployment protection.
I remember my grandfather and great uncle talking about how loggers and sawmill operators in northern Wisconsin would lose hands, feet and sometimes their lives due to the high-hazard work. If they survived, they and their families often lived in poverty since they could no longer work. Those “good old days” were not good for workers.
Men in the trades who formed unions, or who tried to, led the battle to make things better. Slow progress was made, and individual states began observing a “Labor Day” to show appreciation for the gains made in worker’s protections and respect for the people who literally built this country. In 1894, 32 states had adopted the holiday, and the president finally made it a national holiday.
The risk these men took to bring about change was enormous. Many lost their jobs, and some were physically attacked, even murdered. We owe them a debt of gratitude for helping change the thinking around an employer/employee relationship from being totally one-sided to one where those injured on the job have rights; those fired without cause have recourse, and maintaining a level of safety and sanitation in workplaces can be enforced. These changes were facilitated not by beneficence of employers, but by regulations and enforcement agencies. Spending a little time appreciating these change agents is worth thinking about on Labor Day, even as you pack your cooler for the holiday weekend.
This prompted further reflection on the “labor” that makes my life safer or more enjoyable. I am confronted with increasing numbers of irritating automated call systems, “chat assistants” who have never once in my experience been the least bit helpful, and “innovations” like self-checkout which I detest. These things lead me to truly value the human checkout clerk, the cheerful and helpful person who actually answers the phone at a business, and the enjoyable waitstaff in restaurants and bars. You humans are so helpful. I never once have had to yell “REPRESENTATIVE” at any of you.
What a lot of “human replacement” devices and systems have done is transfer work that used to be done for the customer by humans is now done by the customer, and this is marketed as “convenience.” You do your own banking; scan, bag and carry out your own groceries; and pump your own gas. Thinking about what human-delivered customer service I currently enjoy will next be replaced by a system I won’t like makes my headache. It might be great for introverts; if you like people it’s not.
We pray every Sunday at our church for those who serve or served in the military and our law enforcement personnel, but I always think of additional people who deserve our prayers. Among them are hospice workers, doctors and nurses, clergy, social workers, foster parents, those who work with the homeless, teachers, childcare workers and mental health care professionals. All of them form an important safety net for society; all of us depend on them for our quality of life.
When I drive through road construction, I reflect on the danger these workers face every shift; not to mention the often-unbearable weather they must tolerate. I appreciate our country’s millions of truck drivers; and those who sail cargo ships and fly freight jets. We can almost always obtain the things needed to support our personal lives and the manufacturing jobs that employ so many of us – because of all of them. And I thank God for the farmers, especially small and family-operated farms. No one outworks the farmers.
I won’t be wasting any time praying or summoning gratitude for chatbots, automated phone systems or self-scanners at stores. I’ll save my appreciation for the hard-working and helpful humans who make my life and our society better.
You can reach me for commentary, alternative viewpoints or ideas at this e-mail address: Janiethibmartin@gmail.com.
Janie Thibodeau Martin
