Labor Day often signifies the end of summer, even here in Hawaii where there is no summer. And my mother’s warning to “not wear white after Labor Day” is surely one of the most pupule rules to ever drift across the ocean, especially since today has nothing to do with any of that.
Labor Day is a time to celebrate workers in the United States. I can only hope the laborers in your circle of family and friends are lounging at home or lazing in the sun today, their only job being to fire up the barbecue grill or make mac salad.
In the United States, Labor Day was designated a federal holiday in 1894 but New York City first celebrated labor and trade unions with parades in 1882 and others soon followed. We can thank the organizing of the labor force into unions for the comfortable lifestyle of many in the U.S. although recent countermovements as well as pandemics, wildfires and floods have put this lifestyle in jeopardy. (But today is a holiday so I won’t bore you with that.)
Hawaii has long been union-friendly because of the plantation system which imported foreign labor to work the sugar fields starting in the early 1850s. For anyone wondering how it is that so many Asians and Portuguese have deep roots in local culture, it’s because haole plantation owners brought them in for cheap labor. This resulted in the formation of labor unions when “cheap labor” eventually objected and organized. (It also accounts for Hawaii’s well-known political leanings but in this volatile election climate, let’s not go there.)
Today, 22.36% of Hawaii’s population are members of a union, with HGEA, Hawaii Government Employees Association, as the largest. Union membership here even outnumbers New York (22.24%) where it all began nearly 150 years ago. (Pacific Business News 2022)
How’s that for a claim to fame?
Most of us trace roots back to these early immigrants who headed off into the unknown with hopes for a better life. Except for native people pushed off the land and African slaves who had no choice, this has been the American promise: leave all that is familiar to sail over high seas on rickety boats to a land of milk and honey where streets are paved in gold.
Workers are always needed to build and maintain the country, so while new arrivals did not find streets of gold, they usually found jobs, especially in manual labor. And yet, some descendants of those early seekers, now firmly ensconced in a comfy lifestyle, have consistently tried to stop the flow of those looking for the same opportunity. (But in these times of political turmoil, let’s not talk about that.)
You can guess by now that not only am I pro-union, but belonged to one, the AFT Seattle Community Colleges, Local 1789, AFL-CIO. With my connection to Hawaii’s long history of organized workers, signing up was a no-brainer.
It has always been clear to me that workers would have no need to organize if they were treated fairly and enjoyed an equitable share of the profits from the get-go. Unfortunately, the wide difference between the haves and have-nots are usually obvious and visible. And nowadays when salaries of top management are publicized, the disparity is shameful. (But let me stop here because as you know, I stay away from politics, especially these days when polarization is running rampant).
So today, let’s celebrate all the hard workers who keep our economy afloat! And if things seem to be going downhill, don’t blame them.
Rochelle delaCruz was born in Hilo, graduated from Hilo High School, then left to go to college. After teaching for 30 years in Seattle, Wash., she retired and returned home to Hawaii. She welcomes your comments at rainysideview@gmail.com. Her column is published the first Monday of each month.