Labor Day 2024
Labor Day 2024 is brought to you by the working class people that came before us. My first job was at the age of 11 yrs. I worked at a local horse stables from early Spring to the start of school in September. My friend and I both wanted to be near horses and the owner of the stables let us come in everyday and clean. We were eventually paid with free horseback riding lessons thanks to my friend’s grandmother who gave the owner a piece of her mind when she heard we were not being paid. I watched her in utter amazement. I’m still grateful to her today. That was my role model for speaking up to management!
I had a favorite horse, Barron. He was owned by the stables and ridden by people who just wanted a quick lesson. I took care of him, groomed his whiskers, curried his coat, gave him extra hay and sawdust for his stall. I learned how to ride, cantor, gallop, and even jumping. That was what I was after. The experience of taking care a horse and learning to ride. The unexpected benefit was how we developed a work ethic and a very early age. I viewed that job back then as a way to get what I wanted most. Later, any job I took (multiple jobs) was a way into my own first car, apartment, higher education, general independence. Union jobs came a bit later after just starting out. My dad told me about our cousin from the early days of NYC, a Transit Workers Union, TWU leader named Michael J. Quill. My grandfather, Michael Duggan pictured above, arrived in New York City from County Kerry, getting a job as a bus driver. He drove a double decker bus on 5th avenue. Without the Transit Union, back in the 1930’s, bus drivers were expected to work 12 hour days, 7 days a week, never guaranteed a steady job. They would show up in full polished uniform every morning and the boss would select who could work that day. If you were black, jewish, catholic, you were probably not picked or given harsher treatment. The Union changed all that. Michael Quill fought Mayor Lindsay and was arrested and jailed for continuing the strike of 1966. Nobody wanted a strike but in order to get a fair contract, it was necessary. Because of his sacrifice, the TWU were given a fair contract when Mayor Lindsay saw what he was up against. Michael Quill was not a young man at the time. He developed pneumonia while in jail and later died, as a result. I’ll leave a link to old video news footage so you can see the man himself. This video is from TWULocal100 You Tube channel.
https://youtu.be/yNVPSIm7vR0?si=I8CtTnqlxDDMtj_D
Thinking of those who paved the way, did they fight the good fight thinking of us, the grandchildren who would inherit a world of laws, rules, or environments that would make day to day life a heaven or hell? I’m sure they knew what was at stake. Their brave efforts, collaboration, and ability to work together and look ahead has ensured a fighting chance. The past has much to offer. If nothing else, just a sense of gratitude for progress made on our behalf.
I hope you enjoyed this post. It became much more than just the idea I started with! I surprised myself especially the part about our grandparents thinking of the world we’ll occupy today. Maybe that line of history about relics, vintage, and past worlds is why I decided to collect and sell the items I do?
What are some of your memories of first jobs, asking for what you want, or family who paved the way? Leave a comment. Thanks for taking time to check out my blog.
Happy Labor Day 🇺🇸
