History Reveals Actual Meaning Of Labor Day
This is my delayed Reflection on Labor Day, but it still might be worth reading.
Labor Day brings back a personal memory for the Linzey family. Our son, Ron, and his family were visiting us on the first weekend of September in 2012. Their baby was due in three weeks. But, SURPRISE! On Labor Day, Sept. 3, 2012, our daughter-in-law, Tanya, went into labor and gave birth to our grandson, Daniel Nehemiah Linzey — on our bed. That boy is now 5 years old; but with our busy schedule, it seems like only a year ago. Time sure flies!
Throughout history, there have been continuous struggles between laborers and business owners. The companies were in a dilemma: as the workers required higher wages, the business owners struggled to maintain corporate profits. That is normal, and is still true today.
But the struggle in the Middle Ages (5th through the 15th centuries) is not understood by most workers today. To give you a historic reference: the Mayan culture began its decline in 400 AD, St. Jerome completed translating the Gospel into Latin in 405 AD, and Rome was sacked by the Visigoths in 410 AD. That’s the beginning of the fifth century.
Workers of similar skills began forming trade guilds (prelude to labor unions) and worked to improve both their skills and product. They also created the apprentice program to teach aspiring students — both children and adults — the trade. The apprentices worked for very low pay, or no pay, in exchange for learning the trade, while leaders of the guilds were the teachers, and earned much higher wages. The guilds maintained their standard of output and product, and tried to protect their members regarding disputes — either from external or internal sources.
Now let’s jump to the 19th century where our Labor Day parades began.
The labor unions in New York City wanted to increase their visibility, while establishing a heftier political clout, and decided to have a parade. The Central Labor Union (including members of numerous local unions) decided to have “a monster labor festival” on the morning of Sept. 5, 1882, but the newspaper reports said the parade would bomb out. They thought no one would be interested.
On the other hand, police thought another riot would break out and turned out in force. By 9 a.m., armed mounted police surrounded city hall while spectators filled the sidewalks. This would be the first ever Labor Day Parade, and onlookers wanted a good vantage point to watch WHATEVER might happen.
The appointed Grand Marshal, William McCabe with his police escort, showed up before 10 a.m, and sat there with mounting tension. Nothing was happening because the band hadn’t come. How can you have a parade without music?
Finally, the delayed ferry from Newark, N.J., docked and 200 members of the Jewelers Union disembarked — with a band! Let the Parade Begin!
One report said, “They were playing ‘When I First Put This Uniform On’ from Patience, an opera by Gilbert and Sullivan.”
The parade marched through Lower Manhattan. Word quickly spread and people got excited. Spectators were leaning out windows, standing on roofs, perched on lamp posts, and were found everywhere else they could possibly gain a vantage point. The next morning, the newspapers reported between 10,000 and 20,000 people marched in the parade, with multiple thousands more watching.
The parade ended at Reservoir Park and the partying increased. Many unions who had not participated (for whatever reason) joined in the celebration at Wendel’s Elm Park at 92nd Street and North Avenue; and eventually almost 25,000 union members and their families were there.
A tradition of picnics and various celebrations for workers had already developed over the years; but Linda Stinson, a former U.S. Department of Labor historian said this event in 1882 was apparently the major event that gave the organized labor unions a greater visibility in American culture. Therefore, that event gave the laborer greater visibility and increased his importance.
I’ve heard the question: “Which is more important, the worker or the company?”
The answer is the same whether the business is comprised of 1 person or 100,000 people: “Both are equally important.” Without the company, there is no work. And without the worker, the company cannot exist.
I believe companies should pay “livable” wages; but workers should do their best for the company to ensure profitability. A growing economy depends on both sides cooperating for the greater good of all. GENE LINZEY IS A SPEAKER, AUTHOR, MENTOR AND PRESIDENT OF THE SILOAM SPRINGS WRITERS GUILD. SEND COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS TO MASTERS.SERVANT@COX.NET. THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR.