Today, Sept. 1, is Labor Day, granting many a three-day weekend, a reminder of living wages, fair hours and safe conditions that unions have won for workers, as President Donald Trump attacks a key tool keeping job growth on track.
Trump announced in a release posted to the White House website that, “Every day, my Administration is restoring the dignity of labor and putting the American worker first.” But there is no mention of his Aug. 1 firing of Commissioner of Labor StatisticsErika McEntarfer, for delivering a “market shocking” weak jobs report that would normally be a signal for him to take action to help American workers.
Trump’s firing of McEntarfer, accusing her, without evidence, of manipulating the numbers, casts doubt on the integrity of federal government data, which the economy depends on, and obscures the signs past U.S. presidents have used to get the economy back on track.
According to the Urban Institute, “Data from the BLS, US Census Bureau, Bureau of Economic Analysis, and other federal statistical agencies are essential to the functioning of the US economy. They inform the development and implementation of programs and policies and provide insights that help businesses and governments plan and invest.”
Labor Day weather: Hot, Partly Cloudy
What’s open, what’s closed Labor Day
In Warwick, City Hall and the school department are closed for the holiday. Trash, recycling, and yard waste pick-ups are delayed one day.
- Public transit RIPTA is following holiday routes. Check the RIPTA website for schedules.
- TF Green State Airport is operating, with arrival and departure schedules online.
- Banks are also closed or holding limited hours.
The holiday, first celebrated on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 1882 in New York City by the Central Labor Union, according to the US Department of Labor. The celebration was originally a street parade to exhibit to the public “the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations” of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families.
The idea took off across the states, and on June 28, 1884, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday. In the following years, the holiday has honored the hard work of America’s workforce and their role in driving the U.S. economy. The day has also served as a reminder of the benefits organized labor has won for workers, including better wages, reasonable hours and safe working conditions. The labor movement led efforts to stop child labor, give health benefits and provide aid to workers who were injured or retired.
Author: Warwick Post Staff
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