Yes, I'm at work. And yes, I'll be here again tomorrow. And I have work-related responsibilities for part of the day on Monday.
I heard on NPR today that the very concept of 2-day weekends for most workers is largely due to the influence of factory workers -- Jewish and Christian -- as well as certain large business owners, such as Henry Ford. The workers managed to finagle a day off for their respective sabbaths, whereas Ford just liked the idea of a 2-day break from work in order to encourage workers -- and consumers -- to use their brand new automobiles more.
I find it fascinating that Jews made up such a large number of factory workers in the early part of the 20th century that they were able to sway management to grant Saturdays off in addition to the more readily approved Sundays for most other religious groups. And apparently Ford pretty much invented the weekend getaway, which is kind of cool -- even if it was all part of a dastardly plan to sell more product.
If you have a day off from work or school this Monday in observance of Labor Day, please don't forget to thank the labor unions for it -- and for weekends in general. The unions, those melting pots of immigrants in the early 1900s, as well as a few shrewd management types like Ford, are responsible for our ability to sleep in, take a road trip, worship, and/or spend time with our families and friends for two days each week without needing to face the wrath of our employers.
And don't worry about little old me, toiling away, trying to make life easier for incoming students. It's what I signed on for.
I love my job.
Mostly.
Gah.
Posted by cynical at September 01, 2007 05:05 PMGiven Henry Ford's well-known anti-Semitic beliefs, I gotta believe it was a sales tactic rather than an enlightened nod to religion.
Posted by: Linkmeister on September 1, 2007 05:44 PMThe NPR commentator very specifically stated that Ford's agenda was sales and had nothing to do with religious observance (for Jews or anyone else).
Posted by: cynical on September 1, 2007 06:19 PMI wonder if one of the people you need to work with was what WBZ referred to as a "young" driver on Storrow Drive this afternoon?
"It appears that instead of stopping immediately after hitting the bridge, the driver kept going about 25 feet under the bridge, causing the truck's roof to be ripped off."
Um, anyway, as long as we're talking about hours on the job, let's not forget ol' Louie Brandeis ...
Posted by: adamg on September 1, 2007 06:27 PMAdam - there's a good chance the "young [and stupid] driver" [commentary mine] was one of ours, but I haven't heard for sure.
Posted by: cynical on September 2, 2007 08:48 AMWell, we have a guy in the neighborhood who shoots off a CANNON on holidays. Here's the irony: the guy's a right-wing nut job who probably does not know that this holiday celebrates labor unions.
I'm just sayin'.
Posted by: shelley (not-so-cynical) on September 3, 2007 10:31 AMOh, and bummer you have to work.
Posted by: shelley (not-so-cynical) on September 3, 2007 10:32 AMSeems we're gradually losing the lessons of the organized labor movement (not that it wasn't - or isn't - without its own faults) with more people working ever more hours. According to a story on Marketplace this morning the average American worker produces nearly $64,000 in annual output, while workers in runners-up Ireland, Luxembourg (!), and Belgium (?!) produce only about $55,000. With increasing hours and a growing income gap, it seems that the average American worker isn't realizing the full benefit of his or her worth. Just another happy thought for your holiday weekend.
Don't work too hard, Shelley!
Posted by: Tony on September 3, 2007 11:13 AMTony, without deriding the awful state of American income equality, I think that disparity in output may have something to do with averages, specifically average rates of pay in the different countries cited.
Posted by: Linkmeister on September 3, 2007 03:41 PMI'm sorry to hear you have to work today but I know the kiddos are glad you are there. I've been twice as lazy today in your honor. (((cynical)))
Posted by: chapin on September 3, 2007 07:06 PMThere's no end to the way the labor unions have changed working conditions forever. So...I hate it when certain Conservatives I know criticize unions as a drain on the way big business works. Hello? Triangle Shirt Factory disaster? Anyone? Anyone?
Posted by: wordgirl on September 5, 2007 06:25 PM