2011-09-05

Labor Day or Union Day?

Dateline - WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) —
Organizers of the Labor Day parade in Wausau say Republican lawmakers aren’t welcome in this year’s event.

The Marathon County Central Labor Council sponsors the Sept. 5 parade. The council includes about 30 local unions from the Marathon County area.
The Wausau Daily Herald

Since then, the mayor has requested that the organizers back off or reimburse the town for expenses. 
In an interview with the press, he was even more blunt. "This is not a political rally, it's a parade, for God's sake," Tipple told Reuters. Pointing out that tax money normally pays for the event, the Mayor said excluding Republicans "flies in the face of public policy."
New American
So what is Labor Day?  Is it a big union day?  Or is it a celebration of the American worker?  According to Wikipedia it is a federal holiday that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.  But Wikipedia also states the Labor Day was first observed by labor unions.

I agree with mayor wholeheartedly.   If Labor Day celebrates all workers from the janitor to the CEO, then fine with the town kicking some bucks in. 

I don't want my tax dollars to go to union parties.  What are unions today other than sanctioned political monopolies?  Big unions aren't working me.  As near as I can tell they aren't even working for their members.  Let's celebrate Labor Day all together.  Let divisive unions take their party somewhere else.