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LABOR DAY 2009 NEWSPAPER EDITORIAL
"As we relax and spend some extra time with our families today, I would like to personally salute each and every Connecticut worker and their family on this Labor Day 2009. For most of us, Labor Day signals the change in seasons in the northeast and the start of the school year. But for over 100 years now, Labor Day has been a traditional holiday to honor the American spirit of hard work and accomplishment.
This is a day to reflect upon the efforts of many without singling out a few. I have always remembered an appropriate quote from Samuel Gompers, the first president of the American Federation of Labor, who stated, “All other holidays are in a more or less degree connected with conflicts and battles of man's prowess over man, of strife and discord for greed and power, of glories achieved by one nation over another. Labor Day . . . is devoted to no man, living or dead, to no sect, race, or nation.”
Yet, the American worker remains the true backbone of our nation’s economy. With a sharp mind, a warm heart and strong hands, the American laborer continues to help support and grow our country’s overall infrastructure. However, not since the Depression in the 1930’s, have workers in such large numbers, here in Connecticut and throughout the U.S., actually sacrificed wages, benefits and additional opportunities in order to alleviate the present economic crisis and administrative budget constraints. Today, our workers also need to be commended for continuing to do quality workmanship day after day while receiving less pay and benefits. As always, the American worker is helping local, state and federal government entities along with the private industry to survive during a crisis situation.
But as in the past and in our future, our economy will grow stronger as we rebuild our nation’s infrastructure which includes improving our transportation and public utility systems. During the Depression, the TVA, CCC and WPA were created to retrain and re-employ the masses. While the Obama Administration is following this past philosophy to a degree, we can see several projects, on a much smaller scale, on the horizon in Connecticut that will help workers and their families to improve their lives and earn a better living. Taking five to 10 years, the MDC’s $2 billion plus project, which recently started, is projected to employee hundreds of local workers and in Waterford a new AMTRAK bridge is scheduled for completion as well.
While the “backbone of our economy” may be temporarily weaker due to global economic challenges, our workers will persevere for the betterment of our future. President Lincoln once remarked, “All that serves labor serves the nation. All that harms is treason. If a man tells you he trusts America, yet fears labor, he is a fool. There is no America without labor, and to fleece the one is to rob the other.”
So on this Labor Day 2009, I would thank all Connecticut workers for their tireless efforts, noted accomplishments and dedication to making Connecticut a better place for all of us to live."
Charles LeConche is business manager for the Connecticut Laborers’ District Council and an international representative for the Laborers’ International Union of North America.
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