Labor Day

For many people, they see the Labor Day holiday as the end of summer. But it actually means so much more than that. As I was growing up, I didn’t realize how significant it was and I never really learned about it in school. But in my American History class at SMU, I read a book about the life of a labor union advocate. In the late nineteenth century, there were no laws to protect workers from unsafe working conditions or unfair firing practices. As part of the Industrial Revolution, young people flocked to the cities to get work away from the family farms. Often they worked twelve hours a day for very little money. Children as young as five years old (my grandson Henry’s age now) were sent by families to work in the factories. Many, many people lost limbs and life in the working conditions of the time. I wish that I could say that changes were made and there was no more danger to workers anymore. But that is not the human condition. Anyone who has seen the movie “Norma Ray” knows that unhealthy working conditions exist as long as there is money to be made.

In the book that I read, those who advocated for unions were despised by many. They often held meetings in secret and if it was discovered then the employees would all lose their jobs. Some of those who were trying to change labor practices were killed and their bodies never found. Working for change was a devastating calling for those who changed the world for all of us today. Often those who worked these jobs were from poor or immigrant families. So many things that we take for granted were paid for with blood and sweat of those early laborers who fought for change for themselves and for every generation after. It seems that no matter how long we exist that we, as human beings, continue to make decisions that harm others for our own benefit. We live in a world where companies and governments still often put dollars above lives.

At the same time, I have heard stories of workers who have taken advantage of their unions and people who should be fired are kept on. Those who are terrible employees have no accountability and are protected when they should not. This is corruption that goes the other direction. I have heard of some unions referred to as gangs who demand uniformity and can even harm fellow employees. Imperfection and abuse seem to be something that we will always have to wrestle with as the people of God who are called to proclaim the beloved value of all God’s people.

On this Labor Day, may we recognize that the sacrifice of others have made this holiday possible. And if we are off, may we be generous and kind to those who are working for the convenience of the rest of us.

Be safe out there!