Happy Labor Day workers, you deserve it

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.richmond.com/viewpoints/output.aspx?Article_ID=4809630&Vertical_ID=127&tier=1&position=2



Karri PeiferRichmond.comFriday, August 31, 2007Ah, the American worker. Is there anything more American than the image of a brave, strong and able-bodied worker toiling away for his piece of the American dream? It's the classic American image, existing in my head as part Rosie the Riveter and part fresh-face soldier just back from fighting the Nazis.

But is it the image of the American worker as he exists today?

Sure, my grandfather lifted himself up by his bootstraps and helped build the middle class, but these days I can count on one hand the people I know who haven't been affected by outsourcing or corporate mergers. And then there are the baby boomers who, in lieu of the 30-years-with-the-company anniversary gold watch, are getting "early retirement" packages that make bagging groceries at Ukrop's an essential "early retirement" career.

In stark contrast to the "Greatest Generation," the American worker I know is a nervous wreck, wringing his hands because yet another bout of layoffs is rolling through his company and the stock securing his 401(k), the one he has to have because pensions don't exist anymore, just plummeted. And though all the headlines say that the economy keeps adding new jobs, you have to read the fine print to find out these are service sector jobs. Janitors, cashiers and waitresses … all the jobs that we went to college to avoid. Heck, I had an appliance repairman at my house the other day who was a "retired" chemical engineer.

Don't get me wrong, I think education breeds freedom and you should be able to work any job you want, even if that job is cleaning out the lint trap in a dryer; but if I have to spend my golden years harnessed into turd-colored polyester coveralls, I'm going to be one angry American worker.

So before you kick back and enjoy this long Labor Day weekend, let's take a moment and think about what this holiday is supposed to be: a celebration of the blood, sweat and tears of the American worker, a worker who, in my opinion, has gotten the shaft lately. So in honor of Labor Day, let's take a look at the actual picture of the American worker.


FULL story at link.

[zanne]

1. HEAR HEAR!

Thank you for that post. Labor Day is all about LABOR; something we've forgotten because it is rarely mentioned anymore. It's also about the freedom to organize and the heroic people throughout our history who have stepped up to help their fellow workers reap what they sow.