We love and lament Labo(u)r Day weekend in the U.S. and Canada. It’s a wonderful break from work for many. It’s the cultural end of summer for most — relief for parents of school-age kids (I see you!); excitement for students about to enter college; a disappointment for my mom, who dreads fall because it portends winter 🤷
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What few of us do is spend this holiday thinking about where it came from and what it honors. Labor Day became a federal holiday in the U.S. and a public holiday in Canada in 1894 at the prompting of trade unionists. With labor movements growing at the turn of the century, we dedicated a day to celebrating workers. Over the years, we forgot about workers (on this holiday and throughout the year), and, as federal holidays do, it became a day dedicated to flashy sales and barbecues.
As another labor revolution heats up, let’s take this time to focus on the workers.
I’m a member of the Freelancers Union, the National Writers Union and the Authors Guild. All do important work for solidarity of independent workers, but I’m a member as a freelancer in all cases — effectively, an owner. I’ve never been part of a union as an employee. I’d love to learn about it from you!
Have you been a labor union member? Have you been a union organizer? Have you been part of a workforce that organized a union for the first time? Have you been on strike?
Tell us about your experience!
I’d love to know anything you want to share about being a union worker, but here are a few questions that come to mind:
What do you love and hate about being a union member?
What do you hope to see changed through this current labor movement?
Has increased support for unions in recent years impacted your experience?
What do people not know about starting or joining a union?
What do the rest of us get wrong about union workers?
What would you tell someone who wants to start a union in their workplace?
Please pass this thread on to anyone you know who is or has been a union member — I’d love to hear from as many folks as possible!
If you’re not a union worker, feel free to add your questions in the comments — but please refrain from using this space to share outside assumptions, opinions or critiques of unions. We’re here today to learn about the experience from those who’ve had it. Comments are open to all readers, because Healthy Rich is dedicated to holding space for diverse voices; please honor that by keeping this conversation as respectful and constructive as our conversations always are 💖
Always good to remember labour activists and the importance unions!! My union, the University and College Union in the UK is currently embroiled in a protracted dispute with university employers. Strikes are hard but necessary. They can be divisive but also bring out solidarity. More freelancers need to be in unions too. They’re our only hope for pushing back on attacks on workers’ rights- and pay! Thanks for the post.
Always good to remember labour activists and the importance unions!! My union, the University and College Union in the UK is currently embroiled in a protracted dispute with university employers. Strikes are hard but necessary. They can be divisive but also bring out solidarity. More freelancers need to be in unions too. They’re our only hope for pushing back on attacks on workers’ rights- and pay! Thanks for the post.