Mark Schwiebert: Thoughts on Labor Day

Our national holidays are set aside to remember significant individuals or groups whose efforts contributed to building our nation. Thus, we honor the father of our country and preserver of our union, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, on Presidents' Day. We honor those who died for our freedoms on Memorial Day, and those who served on Veterans' Day. On Labor Day, we commemorate those whose steadfast work and constructive labor built our roads and bridges, our homes and factories, and produced the goods that have made our nation an economic powerhouse. Some years ago, I recall hearing a song written by Tom Paxton, the celebrated American folk singer and songwriter. It began 'I'm the man that built the bridges. I'm the man who laid the track; I'm the man who built this country with my shoulders and my back. I'm the man that built the power dams and oiled all the cars. And I laid down the cornerstone for this great land of ours'. Yet, for all their contributions, too often American workers — both men and women — get short shrift in the story of our nation. While we celebrate movie stars and professional athletes, and praise captains of industry who've made great fortunes, the workers who silently but steadily keep the machines running and bridges standing, too often get left out. The movement toward the creation of Labor Day came in reaction to this seeming collective amnesia. As labor unions emerged to protect workers' rights, to secure fair compensation and workplace safety, pressure mounted to annually celebrate the contributions of America's workers to our nation's enterprise. So in 1894, Labor Day was designated by Congress and President Grover Cleveland to occur on the first Monday in September.Today the workplace has changed dramatically from 1894. Where factory lines once hosted hundreds of workers on assembly lines, far fewer workers now often pilot robots to do similar work. Where warehouses were stocked by 'elbow-grease' and manual inventories, now computers and automated controls often replace these traditional jobs. Yet, while these accelerating changes have redefined the role of labor, it hasn't diminished the importance of human ingenuity and hard work in building a better world for future generations. For, though technology can reduce the monotony and danger of hand stamping parts on an assembly line, coming up with better ideas of what to produce and how to run the equipment used to produce what we need — from manufactured goods to farm products to the homes we live in — all still demand human skill and initiative. As American workers continue to provide daily the energy to drive our economy, safeguards to protect against workplace hazards and abuses, as well as to assure reasonable compensation for an honest day's work, all continue to be needed. Too often, we take for granted the efforts of those whose quiet, ongoing efforts make our way of life possible. Some would even have us remove the safeguards afforded by workplace safety and organizing regulations for these indispensable workers — frequently in favor of increasing profits or benefits for the very wealthy. Instead, from newspaper delivery persons, to postal workers, to custodians who keep our workplaces clean, to mechanics, construction workers, waitpersons, and farm workers on whom we daily depend upon; the dignity of an honest day's work should always be remembered and honored. May we do so this Labor Day and in all the days and years to follow. Mark Schwiebert, a lawyer, is a former mayor of Rock Island. Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!