CC Biker & motorsports
vol 5 issue 8
Please tell’em CC Biker and Motorsports Sent Ya
september 2020
page 1
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CC Biker & Motorsports Well here we are rounding the corner for another Labor Day holiday; I’d like to say thanks to all of you working people who have contributed to our great country with hard work and sweat. But let us back it up a bit and see how we really got here. The actual holiday began largely in thanks to the Labor Union Movement which was formed in the mid 1800’s as a response to the Industrial Revolution. The fact that the workers rallied together and formed a march of 10,000 people on September 9, 1882 in Manhattan in protest of poor working conditions at that time is a pretty
amazing feat. During this time the average workday was 10 to 12 hours long, 6 or 7 days a week, harsh conditions by anyone’s standard. Steel, Machinists, laborers, farmworkers, miners, all hard work and not many choices for a career path. Poverty was widespread and child labor became prominent in factories, mines and fields; children as young as 3 years old worked long hours in dangerous conditions. Child labor was popular because they were paid less, didn’t organize into unions and due to their small stature were able to manuver and complete tasks their adult counterparts couldn’t. Big win for business but a big loss for the children who were unable to attend school, these children grew into a cycle of poverty which many were unable to break away from. Child labor continued until the Great Depression when men were desperate for any work and the majority of child labor ceased in America. During this time labor forces were in dire straits, massive layoffs, government
labor day
President was a “union buster”, and organized labor has seen a steady decline since then. In fact, labor contract strikes are rarely seen today, teachers’ unions are typically the only ones we hear striking in recent years. American labor has remained a powerful force in the structure of our great nation, in the last 20 years we handouts, and business closing worked outside of the home prior. have seen ups and downs in our (sound familiar huh?) malnutri- America called out to its women labor force but 2020 really has tion, turbulocicis and the country and they proudly answered offer- impacted our labor force more was on the brink of civil unrest. ing their contribution to keep our than anyone ever imagined. People were starving waiting for labor force afloat and win the war. government handouts and des- The female labor force during perately needing work to keep WWII was more than 19 million families alive, our labor force was strong between 1940 to 1945, imsuffering. pressive. America’s labor force In 1938 the government decided moved ahead and during the to pass a law to create a federal 1950’s blue collar workers were minimum wage of .25 an hour, guaranteed an 8-hour work day, created by Congress to protect 1 in 3 women worked and we workers and stabilize the frag- were a thriving labor force. ile economy as our nation was As America’s labor force grew This year Labor Day has a difbeginning to pull out of the de- large labor unions formed and ferent meaning to many of our pression. When WWII broke out, their numbers grew, wages tripled American citizens who are out of it opened the door for women to between 1950 and 1970, largely work due to the pandemic. Since enter the workforce due to the in part to economic growth and the pandemic roughly 32 million focus of the country being on our organized labor. As much as or some sources say 45 million Armed Forces, women filled the organized labor has benefited people out of work, the unemshoes of male workers and the the workforce in America through ployment is so high the governworld of labor changed forever wage and work conditions their ment can’t track the numbers efin America. The government as membership has seen a decline fectively. Reports state 100,000 clever as they were designed a since the 1970’s. Non union com- businesses have closed, some petition, concession bargaining, reports estimate that 200,000 plant closures led to a rapid de- people will become homeless cline in organized labor numbers, that would otherwise not. Our between 1975 and 1985 unions labor force is suffering as we cellost up to 5 million members, ebrate this workers holiday. So, that’s a pretty significant decline as we celebrate the working men in organized labor. I liked Ronald and women who built this great Regan, he was a great president country let’s give thanks to God but also seen largely as an an- for the tenacity and fortitude of ti-union President, remember the the American people. platform to encourage women to Air Traffic Controllers strike in If there is one thing, I am certain volunteer to enter the work world, 1981, lasted 2 days and he fired of this Labor Day is that we as enter Rosie the Riveter and boy some 11,400 federal controllers a nation have suffered and predid that idea take on a life of its and banned them from Federal vailed and we will once again own. Service for life. A blow to orga- prevail, our labor force will again Women from all walks of life, nized labor for sure, the sitting be strong, American strong. Our color and religion joined the workforce in order to support our troops abroad and keep the country afloat during the tumultuous time. Women went to work in shipyards and factories making tools and munitions for our soldiers, these were hard jobs and most of the women had never
forefathers built this country and we as Americans will continue to thrive, we will rebuild our economy, rebuild our businesses again, jobs will open and once again we will be a strong working class. So, as we celebrate Labor Day this year remember to hug a worker and thank them.