I probably don't need to point out that morale isn't so great these days in the ol' U-S-of-A. It seems that anytime the economy appears to be bouncing back, we're lambasted with bad news: steep stock market drops, government squabbling over the nation's debt, and dreary unemployment numbers. In a recent survey, 42% of respondents said they believe economic recovery is still at least five years away.

On September 5, 1882, New York City workers marched from City Hall to Union Hall to rally for an 8-hour workday. People around the country followed suit, making September 5th known as the "Working Man's Holiday," when laborers took a day off from work (without pay) to parade for labor rights. Oregon first recognized Labor Day as an official state holiday in 1887, and in 1894, the U.S. government decreed Labor Day a federal holiday in an attempt to make amends with labor unions.

On Labor Day today, the bum economy, current struggles Americans face in finding jobs (or jobs that match their skill level), numerous recent strikes and labor disputes, and the anti-union legislation passed in Wisconsin earlier this year are a bit of an elephant in the room.

Here's a sampling of a few headlines from this week that paint a grim picture:

• "From Unemployed To Unemployable" (NPR)
• "Generation Limbo: Waiting It Out" (New York Times)
• "Economists React: 'Disturbing' Way to Start Labor Day Weekend" (Wall Street Journal)
• "Job Growth Halts; Unemployment Rate Stays at 9.1 Percent" (NPR)
• "Zero Jobs: In August, the Worker Recovery Stopped Cold" (The Atlantic)

Over at the New York Times Economix blog, a report on the silver lining of unemployment is especially depressing in its attempt to be hopeful: "Good news! 55% of surveyed unemployed people said they've been able to get stuff done around the house while out of work!"

Unfortunately, the holiday intended to honor the American worker is a reminder that, um, we've still got some major problems. Yet even in a poor economy, tough job market, and a modern culture where most of us go swimming and BBQ on the first Monday of September, Labor Day remains an opportunity to get out and rally for labor rights--and, if you're lucky, get paid for a day's work while doing it.

--Jane

Photo taken from this photostream and used with permission of a Creative Commons license.

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