The History of Labor Day: What you don't know will surprise you

• published: 11 Sep 2015
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Woodstock for Bernie volunteers present: A Labor Day Celebration How did Labor Day come to be and what is so significant about the Pullman neighborhood in Chicago and the little town of Wooodstock, IL? These place represent the birth of Labor Day in the United States after 30+ workers were killed by American soldiers- all for standing up for their rights. Learn about our history and why it happened and how the struggle we have today is very much like the ones our grandparents and great grandparents faced head on. SPEAKERS: "Patrick Murfin is a lifelong labor and social justice activist. As a young man he was a member of the Industrial Workers of the World, the historic militant labor union known as the Wobblies. He served them in many capacities including as an organizer, speaker, editor of the Industrial Worker, and General Secretary Treasurer. He has lived in McHenry County for more than 30 years where he has been a fixture and sometimes the face of numerous social justice causes. He was a co-founder of the Diversity Day Festival here on the square and hosted the event for 11 of the 13 years it was held. Patrick was also active in the Democratic Party of McHenry County retiring last year after nearly 30 years as a Precinct Representative and was a former party Secretary and Chair. Since 2005 he has maintained the labor blog Heretic, Rebel, a Thing to Flout where he frequently writes about labor history, social justice, and the Woodstock and McHenry County community." "Mark Burrows has worked in the railroad industry for over 40 years, most of that time as a locomotive engineer. For years he has advocated for the rail unions to unite in a counter-offensive against the carriers' attacks on safety, working conditions ,dignity as well as quality of life on and off the job .As the delegate representing his Local 1433 of the Transportation Division of the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Union at the last two international conventions, he has taken that fight to the national level, getting a favorable response to his vision and ideals. Mark is on the steering committee of Railroad Workers United, which is a cross-craft caucus of rail labor activists across North America.'Quoting from their quarterly newsletter, 'The Highball': 'RWU grew out of decades of struggle within the craft unions for unity, solidarity and democracy. We are carrying on a tradition of rank-and-file activity which dates back to the 1890's and the time of Eugene V. Debs.' Tony Casalino. Past Past President of McHenry County Federation of Teachers, Currently President of the MCFT Retiree Council, and Executive Board of Illinois Federation of Teachers and Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans. Tim Jackson, Tim is a retired airline captain, a Vietnam veteran, and a delegate for the Northeastern Illinois Federation of Labor AFL-CIO.