Remember the 'Labor' in Labor Day | Mickey Z.

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Mickey Z.: Photo credit

Mickey Z. -- World News Trust

Aug. 27, 2013

“I'm not a humanitarian. I'm a hell-raiser. ”

- Mother Jones

With the relentless, ongoing demonization of unions, it's no surprise that labor history remains obscured and misrepresented and thus, not accessible as a lesson for today's challenges.

With that in mind, we can choose to view Labor Day as nothing more than the symbolic end of summer and an excuse for more shopping… or we can use it as inspiration to reflect upon some of the brave souls who forged a path of justice and solidarity.

The Lowell Mill Girls
Lowell, Mass., was named after the wealthy Lowell family. They owned numerous textile mills, which attracted the unmarried daughters of New England farmers. These young girls worked in the mills and lived in supervised dormitories. On average, a Lowell Mill Girl worked for three years before leaving to marry. Living and working together often forged a camaraderie that would later find an unexpected outlet.

What had the potential to become a relatively agreeable system for all involved was predictably exploited for mill owners' gain. The young workers toiled under poor conditions for long hours only to return to dormitories that offered strict dress codes, lousy meals, and were ruled by matrons with an iron fist.

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http://worldnewstrust.com/remember-the-qlaborq-in-labor-day-mickey-z

[Laelth]

1. k&r for labor. n/t

-Laelth