http://www.michigan.gov/ en Copyright 2009 - State Of Michigan Wed, 9 Dec 2009 19:52:31 EST http://www.michigan.gov/podcast http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://www.michigan.gov/images/gov/gradio_143016_7_188404_7.jpg 144 125 http://www.michigan.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168-37483---,00.html http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov213Full_291192_7.mp3 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 07:00:00 EDT On Monday as Lt. Governor John Cherry walks in Detroit's Labor Day parade, my family and I will be doing the traditional walk across the Mackinac Bridge with thousands of other Michigan citizens.
The Mackinac Bridge is an apt symbol for Labor Day because unionized workers helped to build it, particularly the Iron Workers.
While Labor Day honors all American workers, the holiday's roots are in the labor movement. The first Labor Day was in 1882 when 10,000 union workers in New York marched to celebrate gains made in the workplace.
Many gains made by organized labor throughout the years are now enjoyed by all workers. They've become accepted norms, like the eight-hour work day and 40-hour work week, paid holidays, safe and healthy workplaces. http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov213Full_291192_7.mp3