Mother Jones was just one of hundreds of heroes who fought for the working man and woman in this country. These brave people suffered hardships, were jailed, and many lost their lives in the struggle to give workers a decent life. And they were successful.
The labor unions made jobs safer, more secure, and helped working people to earn a livable wage. It also was instrumental in creating a vibrant middle class in this country. And it wasn't just union members who benefitted. All American workers have benefitted from the union movement.
On this day, when we honor the working men and women in this country, we need to remember that it was the union movement that gave us many of the benefits we normally take for granted -- and we need to fight to make unions strong again. Unions are the only voice workers have in this country.
From Daily Kos, here are some of the things that unions brought us:
36 Reasons Why You Should Thank a Union
Weekends
All Breaks at Work, including your Lunch Breaks
Paid Vacation
FMLA
Sick Leave
Social Security
Minimum Wage
Civil Rights Act/Title VII (Prohibits Employer Discrimination)
8-Hour Work Day
Overtime Pay
Child Labor Laws
Occupational Safety & Health Act (OSHA)
40 Hour Work Week
Worker's Compensation (Worker's Comp)
Unemployment Insurance
Pensions
Workplace Safety Standards and Regulations
Employer Health Care Insurance
Collective Bargaining Rights for Employees
Wrongful Termination Laws
Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967
Whistleblower Protection Laws
Employee Polygraph Protect Act (Prohibits Employer from using a lie detector test on an employee)
Veteran's Employment and Training Services (VETS)
Compensation increases and Evaluations (Raises)
Sexual Harassment Laws
Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)
Holiday Pay
Employer Dental, Life, and Vision Insurance
Privacy Rights
Pregnancy and Parental Leave
Military Leave
The Right to Strike
Public Education for Children
Equal Pay Acts of 1963 & 2011 (Requires employers pay men and women equally for the same amount of work)
Laws Ending Sweatshops in the United States