A salute to the people who get it done
For more than 100 years, Americans and Canadians have celebrated Labor Day on the first Monday in September. The national holiday was born out of the struggle by ordinary men and women to organize around workers’ rights. It’s a day to honor the dignity of a job well done, to acknowledge those whose work laid the foundation for our prosperity, and to enjoy a day of hard-earned leisure spent with those we love.
Labor Day seems especially poignant this pandemic year, which finds so many represented workers — especially in the business events industry — out of work or under-employed. It’s an uncomfortable place to be, especially when it’s not just a job, but your livelihood.
According to Union Plus, there are more than 60 national/international unions that represent millions of workers across America and Canada. Here’s a list I came up with of the union-represented professionals Freeman is proud to work with in our industry…you may be able to add to it:
- Audio visual technicians
- Carpenters
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- Riggers
- Material handlers
- Millwrights
- Decorators
- Porters
- Stage hands
- Carpet layers
- Teamsters
These are people who are experts in what they do, but until events are once again viable, their options are limited. We can help everyone stay safe until they can get back to work, and get back to work as soon as it’s safe, by urging our representatives to pass legislation that supports live business events. As part of the Go LIVE Together coalition, we’re working to secure relief funding that will benefit everyone working in our industry, through extension of unemployment, additional funding for vaccine and rapid testing development, access to long-term funding and loans to sustain our businesses, and liability protection.
You can learn more about how to help by learning about the #GoLIVETogether movement here.
Have a happy Labor Day. Here’s hoping next year’s holiday is one everyone can celebrate together.