Happy Labor Day

I hope that everyone was able to enjoy their weekend. I also hope that for those of us who were able to enjoy today's holiday spent at least a few minutes reflecting on not just labor or unions but on the American worker and social justice more broadly.

Harold Meyerson has a good column in today's Washington Post that explores the status of the American worker in 2009. It's a stark reminder of the bleak outlook that many workers face every day and Meyerson puts the proper historical and political context in place. The current state of affairs for the American worker did not arise by unfortunate coincident. Indeed what American workers face today is the result of decades of concerted efforts by politicians to undermine the American worker to the benefit of corporate profits and favored industries.

On a somewhat more inspiring note I enjoyed this BookTV presentation on CSPAN2 earlier today,

Beyond the Fields: Cesar Chavez, the UFW, and the Struggle for Justice in the 21st Century

Randy Shaw presents a history of Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers. Mr. Shaw contends that the UFW influenced future social justice movements and affected the state of American labor, immigrant rights, and the ascendancy of Latinos in politics. This event was hosted by Busboys and Poets in Washington, DC.

CSPAN2's website has the video up.