It is Labor Day, a great national holiday, a
day to celebrate the American worker, to celebrate the ordinary citizen.
This day is meant to honor laborers, it is a
day to honor work, it is meant to be a day of rest, repose and respite.
I am not working, and that is unusual, though
it is the second year in a row.
Prior to this time in my life perhaps three or
four Labor Days had passed in the last twenty years, on which I have enjoyed the
day off. I cannot recall when, or what I did.
I spent most of my life working in the
hospitality sector. There are many restaurants that close, and give their staff
the day off, but there are many others who see this as an opportunity to “make
hay,” as they say, never mind the lives of the staff whose labor the business
depends upon.
Forget about them, do not honor them, squeeze
a little more profit out of a day.
The last restaurant I worked in, they were
open on Labor Day, they are open today. It will see ten maybe twelve thousand
dollars in revenue, double the haul for an ordinary Monday. It will busy, all
hands on deck, there will be forty staff members toiling away; cooking serving,
cleaning.
Like most restaurants, that establishment sees
ten percent profit or less on average, and the owners will not flinch at the
prospect of ruining the holiday for forty people, to put about a thousand
dollars in profits in the bank.
They will pretend that the staff should be
happy to work, on such a busy day, happy…to earn a little extra money…never
mind having the opportunity to relax and reflect with family and friends
It is Labor Day in America, and many people
are working. Though, it is virtually guaranteed that the bankers, the office
managers, and the whole white collar world have taken this day for themselves, paying
themselves for their holiday as well.
Well paid, well rested managers, and owners…I
guess the world needs more of those, and while they are relaxing someone needs
to be on task to pour their coffee, to serve their brunch and fuel their
frolicking.
Happy Labor Day, you laborers!
Unite!
2018.09.03
Given 1st - 2016.09.05
