I'm not entirely sure what I would have done if I didn't have this three day weekend. Sure, it likely would have involved a distinct lack of sleep, and my lawn certainly wouldn't have gotten mowed, but the other details are rather unclear. Basically, I spent the weekend planning and practicing music, grading, mowing, planning the next couple of weeks for my classes, creating materials for my students, getting the activities onto Canvas, placing a couple of snarky comments on social media, more mowing, watching some Taskmaster and the first three episodes of One Piece, and even more grading. It's been a packed weekend.
Still, I cannot think about how much harder so many of my ancestors had it. The Industrial Revolution brought with it a tremendous jump in technology, but also a disturbing rise in human cruelty and a lack of care for the needs of others. It made it easier for fewer people to gather more wealth for themselves at the expense of the wealth and health of others. In the most democratic of endeavors, workers banded together in unions to collectively raise their voices and have a chance to balance out against the wealthy few who had so many resources at their disposal.
It is due to the efforts of these unions--often despite fierce opposition that would lead to beatings, prison, and even death--that we enjoy even the simple privileges of a 40 hour work week, overtime pay, and two-day weekends (for many people). Certainly, unions (like any human organization) are not perfect and can be corrupted, but nearly anyone who speaks out against them is lining their pockets from the wealthy who are looking to exploit workers as a resource. Thus, despite the time I spent this weekend getting work done, I still am glad that I am part of a union that made it so I did so by choice.
Still, I cannot think about how much harder so many of my ancestors had it. The Industrial Revolution brought with it a tremendous jump in technology, but also a disturbing rise in human cruelty and a lack of care for the needs of others. It made it easier for fewer people to gather more wealth for themselves at the expense of the wealth and health of others. In the most democratic of endeavors, workers banded together in unions to collectively raise their voices and have a chance to balance out against the wealthy few who had so many resources at their disposal.
It is due to the efforts of these unions--often despite fierce opposition that would lead to beatings, prison, and even death--that we enjoy even the simple privileges of a 40 hour work week, overtime pay, and two-day weekends (for many people). Certainly, unions (like any human organization) are not perfect and can be corrupted, but nearly anyone who speaks out against them is lining their pockets from the wealthy who are looking to exploit workers as a resource. Thus, despite the time I spent this weekend getting work done, I still am glad that I am part of a union that made it so I did so by choice.
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