A Day in Our Honor: Celebrate Labor Day with SEIU 1021

Published on September 1st 2011

If ever workers throughout this country needed a day of appreciation, we could all probably agree that it would be this Labor Day. The unprecedented attacks against workers have served as a rallying call to remember, to acknowledge and to unite to protect the rights of workers and ensure all workers are able to provide a decent standard of living for themselves and their families.

In 1882, when the Central Labor Union of New York planned a march through the streets of New York, they were fighting for an eight-hour workday instead of the 12 hours that were the norm at the time.

Since the first labor movement celebration, the strides made by working people have created standards throughout the United States and won maternity leave for parents, compensation for workers injured on the job, paid time off, five-day work weeks and other benefits that have raised the standard of living for unionized and non-unionized workers alike.

Now more than ever it is vital to stand together and build an expectation within the United States that we embrace and expect all workers to be treated fairly and be able to provide a decent standard of living for themselves and their families. Perhaps Frederick Douglass said it best: “Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have the exact measure of the injustice and wrong which will be imposed on them.”

So this Labor Day we celebrate those who came before us and those of us standing strong today to ensure the work that more than 150 million workers provide across this country is properly valued and prioritized.

We've compiled some Labor Day events as well as fun resources for kids and lots of music celebrating the lives and contributions of working people.

HAPPY LABOR DAY!

Friday, September 2

Annual Pre-Labor Day Breakfast – San Francisco, CA

8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Holiday Inn Golden Gateway, 1500 Van Ness Avenue

Hosted by Tim Paulson and sponsored by the Central Labor Council and the San Francisco Labor Council.For information contact 415-440-4809.

Saturday, September 3

We Are One Labor Day Barbeque- Martinez, CA

11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

1333 Pine Street, Suite E

Join the Central Labor Council on Labor Day to celebrate the contributions of Labor to Our Great Nation. Please join us for our day to enjoy each others company and celebrate our Unity and Solidarity. For more information contact 925-372-8608.

Monday, September 5 

Labor Day Rally with Unite HERE Local 2 - San Francisco

10:30 AM - 1:30 PM - Union Square, San Francisco

Workers at the Hyatt Regency and Grand Hyatt hotels in San Francisco continue to fight for a fair contract. They demand the right to stand in solidarity with their workers at non-union Hyatt hotels. Join our Unite HERE brothers and sisters on Labor Day in Union Square as they march to defend their right (and ours) for a voice on the job.
 

Annual Labor Day Breakfast - Benicia, CA

9:00 AM - Noon

Ironworkers #378 Hall - 3120 Bayshore Rd.

Napa Solano Central Labor Council's Labor Day Breakfast Come meet our elected officials and hear what is going on in Napa & Solano counties. Full breakfast of pancakes, sausage, eggs, juice & coffee will be served. Raffles and children's activities available. Cost: Adults-$20.00, Children (4-12)-$5.00 and (3 and under) Free. To make your reservations, contact Shirley at 707 552-6601 or email her at sherbert1186@sbcglobal.net.

Labor Day Picnic - Eureka, CA

11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Sequoi Park

Sponsored by the Central Labor Council and Local Humboldt-Del Norte Counties AFL-CIO, Central Labor Council.For more information, contact Jim at 707-839-0145.

Labor Day Working Families Picnic - Sacramento, CA

William Land Park (Village Green Area – corner of Freeport and Sutterville)

11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

You're invited to attend our Labor Day Picnic for Working Men and Women and their families. This event is free and there will be a BBQ, a beer garden, children’s activities and more. Numerous elected officials will attend and will be recognized at 2 PM. We are looking for volunteers for various duties (set up, cooks, servers, clean up, etc.) between 8 AM and 5 PM. For more information, or to volunteer, please contact Teresa at 916-927-9772 or teresa@sacramentolabor.org.

Labor Day Pancake Breakfast - Santa Rosa, CA

Carpenters’ Labor Center, 1700 Corby Avenue

North Bay Labor Council's Annual Pancake Breakfast and Campaign Kick Off! Pancakes, Bacon, Eggs! Jumper and Live Music for Kids and Plenty of Politics for Grown Ups! All Workers Welcome! Bring Your family for Free! For more information contact Cindi at 707-545-6970 or Lisa at lisa@northbayclc.org.

MORE MUSIC AND VIDEOS

John Lennon -  Working Class Hero

Blackfoot - Diary of a Working Man

Patti Smith - People Have the Power

Pete Seeger - Solidarity Forever

Pete Seeger - Which Side Are You On?

Dropkick Murphys - Which Side Are You On?

Rolling Stones - Salt of the Earth

Willie Nile - Hard Times In America