I’ve been paying attention to labor issues for a long time. What I’ve learned is this: Americans will never have a collective, coherent appreciation of people working for others who profit from that work.
Jessica Lowell/Kennebec Journal, File
Kenneth Z. Chutchian is the author of “John Reed: Radical Journalist 1887-1920,” published by McFarland Books in 2019. He teaches history, government and journalism at Poland Regional High School.
This year, a Chipotle in Augusta settled and remained closed rather than having its representatives attend a National Labor Relations Board hearing as its workers tried to form a union. Last year, Starbucks in the Old Port closed a month after its workers formed a union. Earlier this summer, all it took was a one-day strike by Little Dog Cafe workers in Brunswick to compel the bosses to call it quits.
The immediacy of our news cycles obliterates our desire to reach back for historical context – unless you’re a history nut, and who wants to listen to that guy at a backyard barbecue on Labor Day weekend?
Here’s an example. A few weeks ago, a college buddy of mine had a cordial, brief discussion with our friend and next-door neighbor, including this exchange:
“Nobody wants to work anymore.”
“Actually, that’s not true. Unemployment is at its lowest point in, like, forever.”
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And then they talked about dogs and bees, which was probably a good idea.
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