I remember my first Labor Day parade, 1995 I believe in St. Louis, we were downtown to go to a Cards game and Bob Dole was speaking under the Arch. We watched some of the Labor Day parade, I say some because I think it was 2-3 hours long. We've taken the kids to the Des Moines Labor Day Parade most years, its usually pretty sparsely attended compared to other parades and has a massive candy and freebie bounty and is less than 1 hour long. The only downside is only democrat politicians attend it and at the end of the one today there was some anti-Trump inflatable BS.

Our niece was visiting and between the 3 kids, they seized over 13 pounds of the finest flavored high fructose corn syrup Iowa can refine, a can coozie, 3 frisbees, and 2 thundersticks.

Question:
What about you?

Choices:
I watched a parade today
I marched in a parade today
I stayed home and watched a hurricane sit and spin
I worked
Other

 

I am not even sure if there is a Labor Day parade here in Austin, TX. I spent the day scrutinizing the architect plans for our new home, paying bills, and going to the grocery store.

I marched in ours.

I live in a community much like Mayberry. Half the community is in the parade and the other half come out to watch. It is true Americana at its best.

I march with our squad as one of the EMT's who volunteer.

Almost everyone volunteers in our community. Little League, Youth Football, Community Rec. commission, Flower Garden, Public Office, Fire, EMS, Boy Scouts, etc.... you get it.

I labored.

I sat at home with Mrs. Cooker. She hurt her back at work on Friday and all the weekend plans went out the window.
It’s been an incredibly boring weekend with nothing to do but hang out with you guys on the SIGforum.

No parade in town.

What the hell is a Labor Day parade?

I wonder if it’s a regional thing: don’t know of any on the South.

Okay, so I’m getting up-to-date: just saw a “Durham Workers Assembly” parade on my local news (This is the Durham famous for prosecuting Duke Lacrosse players in the news and then having their asses smacked in their faces.)

So much for my giving a shit, comrade!

quote:

Originally posted by Beancooker:

It’s been an incredibly boring weekend with nothing to do but hang out with you guys on the SIGforum.

Sorry about that. We'll try to liven it up a bit next time.

Made some last minute storm preparations early in the morning then went in to board up and lock down our LGS.

I've never heard of a Labor Day parade.

Chilled with the family while my parents are in town - watched College Football and played with the dogs.

Up North, they are mainly union parades.

Here in Flint, MI, birth place of the UAW and the Sitdown strikes, it would not do to ignore the history. I don’t go anymore but the Local Union Hall has a nice display and statues outside. I used to take my students there every year. Many people who live and work around here have relatives who were in the original strikes. My wife’s grandfather was president of one of the locals during that period. When the car industry was at its peak, Labor Day celebrations were huge around here. Picnics at the union parks, big parades with brass bands, hot dogs and other snacks,
kegs of beer, baseball games all over, all provided by UAW. and AFofL-CIO. It has been toned down considerably since the union membership has been drastically reduced as GM left town.

Union propaganda. Makes sense. Hopefully unions will go the way of the do do soon.

quote:

Originally posted by ruger357:
Union propaganda. Makes sense. Hopefully unions will go the way of the do do soon.

Without our union me and my coworkers would be screwed.

We worked.

quote:

Originally posted by houndawg:

quote:

Originally posted by ruger357:
Union propaganda. Makes sense. Hopefully unions will go the way of the do do soon.

Without our union me and my coworkers would be screwed.

I doubt that. Not trying to start a battle but unions were needed when there were no laws to protect workers. Today there are more than enough laws to protect workers. I do appreciate you and others that worked that day.

quote:

Originally posted by ruger357:

quote:

Originally posted by houndawg:

quote:

Originally posted by ruger357:
Union propaganda. Makes sense. Hopefully unions will go the way of the do do soon.

Without our union me and my coworkers would be screwed.

I doubt that. Not trying to start a battle but unions were needed when there were no laws to protect workers. Today there are more than enough laws to protect workers. I do appreciate you and others that worked that day.

Doubt all you want, but you are wrong in this case.

quote:

Originally posted by houndawg:

quote:

Originally posted by ruger357:

quote:

Originally posted by houndawg:

quote:

Originally posted by ruger357:
Union propaganda. Makes sense. Hopefully unions will go the way of the do do soon.

Without our union me and my coworkers would be screwed.

I doubt that. Not trying to start a battle but unions were needed when there were no laws to protect workers. Today there are more than enough laws to protect workers. I do appreciate you and others that worked that day.

Doubt all you want, but you are wrong in this case.

Always willing to learn. Please explain.

I work for the Illinois Department of Corrections. Without our union we would be much less safe, lower paid, have no or little healthcare, and be forced to work overtime to the point of exhaustion. Try watching a line of inmates when you are too tired to give a shit. The state government has tried to screw us over many times. I won't even get into the pension crisis that was caused by the state misappropriating pension contributions. The union is required to keep management from getting out of control. This might not be the case in the auto industry, but it is in the prison system.

Tiny town parade's are a hoot ! thats what they are.

16 tractors, 13 fire trucks from a half dozen volunteer fire dept's, 4 school bands, half dozen politicians, 4 church's, the v.f.w. trailer,
an honor guard.

took the whole thing 25 minutes to go by