The three-day Labor Day holiday fills our beaches with folks, and portable barbeque grills. Most celebrants view Labor Day as the last day of summer or the day before children return to school. Few know the history of this holiday. In fact, the thought that workers are entitled to a paid holiday and need only work eight hours a day were at one time new concepts.
Labor holiday is the result of workers seeking safer working conditions, higher wages and a shorter work day. Some owners were strongly opposed to the changes. Labor strikes followed and nonunion workers were hired to break the strike. Violence erupted and blood flowed. Police and troops were dispatched to end the uprisings and men were killed. The Pullman Car Strike of 1893 and the Hay Market Square incident of 1894 led to President Grover Cleveland declaring the first Monday of September a national holiday, Labor Day.
Worker’s strike activities like the Pullman strike led to the creation of Labor Day.
My father had an appreciation of the day, because he was a sheet metal mechanic. The union had wanted to unionize the shop where he worked, but would not let him be a member, because he was “Mexican,” although born in Texas. His boss said, “If you won’t accept Herman then I won’t accept the union.” So Dad became a union member and attended union meetings. When he tried to speak, he was called out of order. Undaunted he learned parliamentary procedure and became a voice for equality. I recall meetings at our house where meeting strategies were planned. Then Dad bought a sheet metal shop and signed a union contract.
I worked there as a journeyman earning $3.50 an hour while attending UCLA Law School. The minimum wage then was $1.10 an hour. I remember my dad telling me, “Son, learn a trade in case you don’t become a lawyer.” The day I passed the bar, I ran into his office and announced, “Dad, I passed the bar and I quit!”
Many Latinos who had fought in World War II became involved in union activism.
Recently, I visited my ninety-one-year-old cousin, Al Hernandez. His mind is as sharp as it was the first time we met. He is a World War II veteran and a long time labor leader. Al started working at Firestone Tires in 1943, and was drafted into the Air Force three months later. He returned as a Staff Sargent and was rehired at Firestone. He knew the important roll that unions had played in obtaining better working conditions and a fair wage. Al was subsequently hired by the United Rubber Workers to organize Spanish-speaking workers in the industry. In the meantime he took classes at UCLA. Eventually, Al was hired by the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. As an organizer he was involved in local and national political campaigns. In 1974, for four days, he drove Cesar Chavez around Los Angeles introducing him to unions to gather support for the farm workers’ grape boycott.
We spoke about the changing work force over time. Initially, organized labor was composed of men. Women stayed home and took care of the house and children. Today, parents’ roles aren’t defined by location or gender. The home and work place may have the same address. Today, earning a living and raising children are shared by both parents. Technology now allows employees to work at home and communicate with the office via the internet. The workforce is more diversified, not only by race and ethnicity, but also by age. “Retired” workers now take jobs that were once considered exclusively for teenagers. Women have joined the union ranks and in some instances lead unions.
As we bar-b-que on Labor Day we should remember those who sacrificed.
Labor Day is a day that should be remembered by all of us in recognition of the sacrifices and contributions made by all those before us in order for us to have a paid holiday of rest. Maybe next year here in San Clemente we can have a Labor Day Parade or a ceremony before we all head to the beach for a swim and a barbeque. That’s the view from the pier.
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Copyright 2015 by Herman Sillas. Herman Sillas can be found most early weekend mornings fishing on the San Clemente Pier. He writes a regular column titled The View From The Pier. He may be reached at sillasla@aol.com. His book “View From The Pier” can now also be purchased at Casa Romantica.