Terry L. Hicks, president
Western Wisconsin AFL-CIO
hickswi@charter.net

Labor Day, for most workers in today's world is pronounced labor day .  The correct term of Labor Day for them is an oxymoron because they perceive the use of the word labor as a verb meaning to work, rather than as a noun meaning unionized workers acting collectively for the betterment of all.  Consequently, labor as that noun, has become a euphemism for most of the general public.  Instead of being a word emblematic of worker empowerment it has become a generic term used because unorganized workers represent less of an economic (or work conditions-influencing) threat to the ruling class.

Unions are viewed as an intrusion in the workplace by far too many of our nations' employers.  One of our major political parties' leaders has even called labor activists socialists, leaning towards harboring communistic public policies.  This is an insult of course, which is repudiated by all right-thinking Republicans and Democrats.  The national holiday, Labor Day, is the one bright shining moment when Unions and Union activists gather in public in some numbers, in order to honor the American Labor movement and in fact, to honor all workers in this country, union and nonunion as well.  Without Unions there would not be this national holiday that is owned by our working people.

It bears repeating that the Labor movement is directly responsible for many of the benefits that everyone takes for granted each day on the job, and in retirement.  It bears repeating because the limited numbers of union members within the working community are not able to reach the younger generations of workers created each year.  This is due to several reasons.  We do not teach labor history in our public schools in any meaningful manner.  If you pick up a text book you will be hard pressed to glean any factual information on the value of unionizing for American workers. 

In Wisconsin labor history is social studies approved subject that may be taught but it is one that does not receive any attention by the authorities in fact.  The Wisconsin Labor History Society
( www.wisconsinlaborhistory.org ) and the Wisconsin AFL-CIO ( www.wisaflcio.org ) have lobbied for labor history curriculum for many years yet; this curriculum languishes in committee and has never been brought to the floor of Wisconsin government for a vote.  Anyone curious about local labor history will find a work in progress on labor history on the web page of the local labor council at www.westernwisconsinaflcio.org .   Let us hope that labor history continues to mean a study of the heritage of organized labor and the union workers of our city, state and nation and not an oxymoron meaning an antique mode of workplace organizations, once empowering and protecting workers engaged in hourly wage earning.

Additionally, with ever-lower union density within America 's workplaces, it has become extremely dangerous to even think out loud, “we should find out how to form a union here!”  Locally, major retailers will go so far as to heavily hint in their printed employee handbooks by use of antiunion rhetoric (that while is in violation of American labor law, it is never sanctioned by our courts by any meaningful fine or punishment) that “we don't need a union here, we are all teammates and associates!”

In an ideal world all employers would generously share their profits with their workers.  In an ideal world healthcare costs would be reasonable and affordable for both employers and employees.  In an ideal world fringe benefits would be granted to all workers by all employers.  But, we don't live in an ideal world, all employers are not good to their workers, healthcare costs are nearly unaffordable and fringe benefits are drying up faster than the chance for ever seeing cheap gasoline again is.  So, Unions remain a viable partner in the checks and balances system inherent in a Democracy.  Doing so even in the face of the Global Economy that continues to place an unholy value on finding the cheapest labor wherever in the world it exists and moving to it!

Enjoy the holiday, whether you are working, vacationing, just enjoying the day off, marching in the Labor Day Parade or up on the Northside of town watching it from the sidelines.