Happy Labor Day TransGriot Readers

Happy Labor Day to my US and Canadian readers!   

The first Monday in September is not the day we set aside to act as the symbolic end of the summer season, barbecue, serve as the kickoff for the college football season, the Miss Continental Pageant weekend in Chicago or the fashion world's demarcation line for when to stop wearing wearing white clothes and shoes.  The first Monday in September is set aside to recognize the accomplishments of organized labor and working class people.   

On Labor Day 2011 it's even more important we remember that salient point because organized labor has been under renewed attack by conservafools at a level not seen since the early 20th century. 

GOP controlled state governments and the Republican controlled House are pushing extreme anti-labor legislation such as the stripping of collective bargaining rights for government workers.  They are also doing everything they can to weaken the ability of unions to organize and fight for working class people against unbridled corporate power up to and including holding hostage the reauthorization of vital government organizations like the stunt they pulled last month with the FAA if they don't get their way. 

To the labor movement's credit, they have pushed back hard to resist it just like they did when they fought to establish the 40 hour workweek, child labor laws, the minimum wage, workplace safety regulations, and those collective bargaining rules that are under attack.  

However, the labor movement really could use some help from citizens and bloggers who value workplace fairness and the labor friendly politicians they helped get elected to office like the Wisconsin 14.

Strong unions and the policies they advocated helped build the American middle class, not greed is good laissez-faire capitalism.  Don't forget that the reason Dr. King was in Memphis on that fateful April 4, 1968 day was to support striking sanitation workers.

It's past time that on Labor Day, as we have fun, relax, and do what we're gonna do to enjoy this long weekend, we also should take a moment to contemplate the sacrifices made by people, up to the ultimate sacrifice of their own lives to get us the workplace fairness that we take for granted in the early 21st century.