Monday September 5th marked the 128th birthday of the federal holiday, Labor Day .. Labor Day commemorates the accomplishments of labor, celebrates the toil of workers today, and unites the Labor Movement in the continuing battle against Capital. Beyond serving as a well-deserved day off, according to Jarrett Clem, Business Manager of the IBEW local 601, “It’s a day to reflect on what labor has accomplished and what it means to our community.”
The Labor Movement has a long rich history of delivering material benefits for workers and their communities. According to Arron Walk, Parkland Professor of History and Instructor of the History of the Labor Movement course, labor action can be traced back to the 18th century. Walk explained, “trade societies formed to protect workers’ rights with the first known strike occurring in 1768 in New York City by tailors protesting wage reductions.”
The actions of workers like the 1768 strike continue through this day. While not without hiccups, the Labor Movement successfully secured many rights for working people. Walk shared that some of these benefits are, “Higher wages, safer working conditions, minimum wage laws, maternity/paternity leave, retirement and healthcare benefits, regulations on child labor, collective bargaining rights.”
In the absence of these gains, working people’s livelihoods and safety were at the whim of their employers. Tragically, with profits being the primary goal, investing in worker safety is not a priority without a mandate. Walk shared, “the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire… remains one of the deadliest industrial accidents in American history.” According to History.com, this fire left 146 workers dead due to their employers having enacted protocols such as letting the emergency fire hose rot to a state of uselessness and locking the doors of potential escape routes.
This tragedy imposed on the factory workers helped to inspire labor action and bring reform to working conditions. Following the fire, unions organized a protest attended by 80,000 people. Only months later regulations were imposed to prevent more unnecessary sacrifice of workers. The Census Bureau reports these actions, “required owners to install sprinkler systems, established the New York City Fire Prevention Bureau, and expanded the powers of the fire commissioners… improved building access and egress, established fireproofing guidelines and required installation of fire extinguishers.”
Photo taken by: Trent Chassy
The power of labor is engrained in our history and has brought every worker a higher standard of living. The presence of labor power in our society was acknowledged in the 19th century with the formalization of Labor Day in 1894. Walk explained, “what we now know as Labor Day occurred at the state level when in 1887 Oregon became the first of many states to enact an official labor holiday and 30 more states would soon follow.” Grover Cleveland officially signed the holiday into law on June 28, 1894.
Today, though there are many that must still work, Labor Day is a holiday for all Americans. In Champaign County, and all over the country, Labor Day is celebrated by communities coming together for parades and picnics. Champaign County’s Labor Day celebration included both and began downtown. The parade ran through the downtown area before finishing at the intersection of Walnut and Washington. From there, parade participants and attendees headed to Westside Park for a picnic. At the picnic food was served and inflatables were provided as children’s entertainment.
Among those who participated in the parade there were local leaders both in labor and in government. Each had their own conception of what Labor Day means to them and our community.
Russell “Rusty” Davenport, Business Manager of the Laborers’ Local 703, said, “Labor Day is a celebration of working men and women and what they’ve done all year.” Similarly, Matt Kelly, Business Manager and Financial Secretary/Treasurer of the UA Local 149 Plumbers and Pipefitters, shared, “it’s about celebrating hard work and the toil of working people. Also, we’d like to recognize the community and how important they are to us.”
“Labor Day is a time where we send a message to our neighbors and our friends to tell them how important it is for frontline workers to be respected, compensated appropriately, and to be treated as the essential workers they are. We appreciate them, respect them, and actually work for them.”
Carol Ammons, State Representative of the 103rd District
Another local leader with experience both in labor and government is Aaron Ammons, Champaign County Clerk and former President of the SEIU 73 chapter 119. He explained, “As former President of my Union, Labor Day is a chance to celebrate the collective achievements of workers all over the country while also serving as a reminder that workers still have to fight for fair wages and fair treatment in the workplace. It’s also a chance to showcase the accomplishments of labor and highlight who supports worker’s rights and who does not. The continued connection between labor and Democrats is always on full display at Labor Day in Champaign County.”
Coming up in the November election, workers’ rights are on the ballot here in Illinois. Illinois Amendment 1, Right to Collective Bargaining Measure, if passed, would enshrine workers’ rights to organize in the state constitution and thereby prevent lawmakers from restricting labor organizing in the future. The Labor Movement is a war in which not every battle is won. Walk explained, “the Professional Air Traffic Controllers’ Organization (PATCO) Strike in 1981 that ended in President Ronald Reagan’s firing over 12,000 air traffic controllers.” This proposition, if approved, will serve to prevent actions like these at the state level.
Eugene Debs, Union Leader and Socialist Candidate for President, once said, “Labor Day must be regarded not as a privilege to be thankful for, but as a right to be enjoyed. We never hear of Capital Day, not because Capital has no day, but because every day is Capital Day. The struggle in which we are now engaged will end only when every day is Labor Day.”
Champaign’s Labor Day celebration displayed that in this community, workers as well as their elected officials can stand in solidarity with the legacy of the Labor Movement behind them to continue the fight to affirm, uphold, and defend against attacks to the rights of workers.
Disclosure:
Trent Chassy has an ongoing professional relationship with County Clerk Aaron Ammons in his capacity as an intern for the Clerk’s office. Trent also supports the Champaign County Democrats as a volunteer and as a private citizen.
Trent Chassy
Prospectus Editor