To many, this past weekend meant that school started, the last Summer BBQ’s were held before the season slips away, and mattresses are on sale. All of which is true, of course, but these seasonal changes can dilute or even drown out the homage that should be paid to the people who built this country and the unions that arose out of a need to protect them.This action together with other deaths and brutality directed to strikes and unions, led to the creation of Labor Day. Let’s just pause and consider what these unions were fighting for (and won) for all of us:
The 8-hour work day
The Two-Day Weekend
Child labor laws
Protections in the workplace
Collective Bargaining
In short, unions benefit everyone except those who view people as fungible and only seek out profit. Those who want quality in their life look to unions. And Americans agree, with more than two-thirds expressing support for unions, and with that number sky-rocketing to 91% for those younger than 30.
This has been a relatively good time for unions. The President walked the UAW picket line and crafted the NLRB to protect workers and the right to unite. Of course, it wasn’t all good, it should be obvious If services are essential to this nation, then the people doing the actual work must be paid, protected and allowed to be sick. But with a full term nearly completed, it’s reasonable to say this presidency has been the friendliest to labor in modern, US history.
It seems like the political tides for unions could be coming in this election, with their power and influence growing stronger in the halls of power. Tim Walz, Democratic Party VP nominee, stood up for striking nurses in Minnesota. Democratic Presidential Nominee Kamala Harris is seeking and collecting union endorsements. Some of that might be the actions and words of her opponent. Donald Trump, while chatting with Elon Musk, shared a laugh at the fact that Musk fired employees who tried to organize.
Or perhaps it’s because meanwhile JD Vance is a disciple of and in debt to Peter Thiel, a rightwing capitalist who believes that corporations should run the country with no government oversight. Thiel wants to undercut the pillars of our democracy and our institutions. Somehow workers' rights, major issues like the environment, don't appear even marginally important to him. Every day we should strive for the best for the common good/ our country and the planet. #DSOT is growing a large and diverse coalition of people fighting for an array of desperately needed policies and legislation. By simply shopping locally six days each week and pausing on Tuesday, you are creating economic heft and power.
In the immortal words of Joe Hill: Don't mourn. Organize. https://youtu.be/n8Kxq9uFDes?si=jE7Lt0PnA0xGZtdt
Or simply... Don't Shop on Tuesday.
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