Labor Day: Remember our country's heritage

By John T.Forkan Jr. - 08/30/2008

It's hard to believe, but summer is almost over and another Labor Day holiday is here. Those of us who grew up in southwest Montana have seen worker recognition days such as Miners' Union Day in Butte and Smelterman's Day in Anaconda completely disappear during our lifetime. Fortunately, Labor Day is a nationally recognized holiday that remembers and honors the struggles of working men and women, and hopefully it will never disappear. Labor Day was signed into law in 1894 by President Grover Cleveland, as the only holiday in America that specifically honors workers.

Most of us take a lot of what we have for granted. It was not too many decades ago that our fathers and grandfathers had to fight and struggle to even receive some dignity and recognition for having to toil with their hands and backs to earn a living.

One fact that should never be forgotten is that the conditions and benefits most working Americans enjoy today, such as overtime pay, medical insurance coverage, pensions and vacations, were accomplished, in large, by workers who paid the ultimate price years ago, the loss of their lives.

Our economy is currently in a tailspin and workers are struggling to afford housing, food, gasoline and health coverage for themselves and their families. Preparation for a livable retirement is becoming virtually impossible. The costs of life's basic necessities are going through the roof. And the irony is that as most workers are struggling to maintain a decent standard of living, corporations are posting record-breaking profits and CEO's compensation packages and stock options are rising at staggering rates.

For the first time in more than a decade, some Washington politicians are finally publicly admitting the error of their ways regarding the implementation of failed free trade agreements that are devastating America's economy. The only way our country is going to cast off the chains of servitude being forced on American workers is to make changes on Election Day.

There are vast differences in the two candidates for president this year. It is important for all of us to pay attention and vote for the person who will look out for the best interests of America's middle class and the well being of our nation this November. The agenda during this past eight years certainly has not had the best interests of workers, nor our country in mind when decisions affecting our economy were made.

Sometimes voters need to understand there comes a time when we need to look beyond the usual Democrat versus Republican platforms, or single-issue positions, and realize what our Founding Fathers did and do what is actually in the best interests of our country.

Right now there is a great opportunity to do just that. Eight years ago our country had a budget surplus. Today we have the largest debt in the history of our country. Our economy is nothing more than a house of cards built on debt, massive debt. We are borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Middle East. This is absurd. Our country is experiencing the largest transfer of wealth ever witnessed. Prices for life's basic necessities are spiraling out of control. Working America is not only paying the price, but fixed income citizens cannot afford to pay for housing, food, utilities and medicines on their meager incomes. In addition, the American taxpayers are being dumped on again as mortgage houses and financial institutions are being bailed out with taxpayer dollars for their greedy and irresponsible lending practices. Hopefully this year will get our country back on the right track.

As we observe Labor Day, hopefully each one of us will take a moment to remember that this holiday honors workers and the sacrifices that have been made for all of us. Please share this knowledge with your children and grandchildren. The American Dream is still possible, but it will only happen when workers demand fairness and equity in the workplace.

During this Labor Day holiday, take a moment of your time and remember those who came before us and made their sacrifices on behalf of all workers, past, present and future. And, thank God for allowing us to live in a country and a state that are rich in worker pride. Have a happy and a safe Labor Day!

— John T. Forkan Jr. is business manager of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union #41 (3345 Harrison Ave.) and District #3 Board Member of the Montana State AFL-CIO Executive Board.