Labor Day Recollections

Okay so Labor Day isn't until tomorrow and we all know that the real Labor Day was back in May. A brief overview for those still uninformed. I would like to draw attention to the point

"[R]ecords show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the [United] Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a co founder of the American Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those 'who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold.'"

Although this is contested I would just like to take this opportunity to say fuck Matthew Maguire, the International Association of Machinists and their competing claims to Labor Day. This being said in the full recognition that the one true Labor always has been and always will be May Day. Much to the schegrin of reds everywhere it was under the black flag that the blows for worker's rights were struck at Haymarket. And the sooner we realize they were right in their derision of the political sphere the better off we will all be.

But enough frothing at the mouth over rhetorical issues of no importance (two bald men fighting over a comb comes to mind when debating the anarchist vs. socialist/marxist/communist/leninist etc. conundrum). And fresh from berating the involvement of politics in labor I would discuss a couple of things and note some changes on this blog.

I would first like to draw attention to the case of Alex Svoboda (pictured both left and right) who, during a labor protest had her leg broken by police who then had the audacity to charge her and another wobbly with assault on an officer. Secondly is the addition of a Truth about 47 link which is in reference to a ballot initiative brought to you by the wonderful Coors family. Finally I would like to draw attention to a ruling from a judge in New York about continued federal supervision of the New York City Council of Carpenters. This stems from an incident in which a "dissident" union candidate was beaten after speaking despite a security presence designed to curb such behavior. I believe this has less to do with organized crime than with McCarron's thugs quashing any vision of a different future for our union. He has made no secret of the fact that he wishes to see only a few giant super councils with little or no democratic resources for the membership. Having undergone a "merger" myself within in the last year or so I can personally testify to the level of intimidation brought against rank and file members who challenge the hegemony of McCarron's order. We as unionists need to support grass roots level activity in order ensure the implementation of democracy within organized labor.