Today is Labor Day.
It might not be the most popular holiday. Most don’t know much about it, beyond the fact it often comes with a day off. But this day does have a meaningful history that goes back over a century. And it’s an important history.
You might think that working for a living is hard today. But don’t let the present blind you to the rigors of the past. Things used to be much worse for workers. The shifts were longer. The pay was worse. And there were few benefits to speak of. The fruits of your labor depended entirely on the generosity of your boss, which was inconsistent at best.
The modern labor movement changed that. Many of the protections that we take for granted were fought for on many fronts, from picket lines to the halls of government. That movement didn’t achieve all its goals. In some cases, things have regressed. But that just makes a day like this even more important.
Most people who aren’t born rich and beautiful have to work for a living. It’s unavoidable. It’s often arduous and stressful. But it’s worth doing. And it’s worth fighting to have that work acknowledged and compensated fairly.
Whether you spend this day sleeping in or actually having to work, take a moment to appreciate where we are as workers. We’ve come a long way. We’ve made plenty of progress. We’ve also failed and become complacent in some areas. But like it or not, the world economy needs us. It cannot function without us. We hold more collective power than we realize. So today, let’s celebrate that while not losing sight of what this day truly means.
Happy Labor Day!
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