Labour Day is often viewed simply as a turning point on the calendar.
A change of seasons; back to school; a signifier of the home stretch towards the end of a long year (particularly this one); even just a day off.
But Labour Day, a celebration of the achievements of Canadian workers, has its roots in the labour union movement, one of the reasons you likely don香蕉视频直播檛 work more than eight hours in a day and receive some form of additional compensation if you do.
According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, the country香蕉视频直播檚 celebration of Labour Day stems from an 1872 printers香蕉视频直播� strike in Toronto.
Strikers from the Toronto Typographical Union were fighting for a 58-hour workweek.
Now, outside of some professions, a week that long is unheard of.
Here are some songs to remind you what your day off represents:
Dolly Parton - 9 to 5
Dolly Parton penned this ultimate workers香蕉视频直播� anthem in 1980. 香蕉视频直播淲hat a way to make a livin香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈 Parton sings, with absolutely no hint of sarcasm.
Bruce Springsteen - Factory
香蕉视频直播淭he Boss香蕉视频直播� never took too kindly to his bandmate-given nickname. This ode to his factory-working father gives a little bit of insight as to why.
Johnny Paycheck - Take This Job and Shove It
This is about as blunt as it gets. If you need some motivation to give your boss the what-for, this is it.
John Lennon - Working Class Hero
If 香蕉视频直播淚magine香蕉视频直播� was John Lennon香蕉视频直播檚 dream, 香蕉视频直播淲orking Class Hero香蕉视频直播� was his view of a harsh reality. 香蕉视频直播淎s soon as you香蕉视频直播檙e born they make you feel small. By giving you no time instead of it all.香蕉视频直播�
Rush - Working Man
香蕉视频直播淚 got no time for living. Yes, I香蕉视频直播檓 workin香蕉视频直播� all the time,香蕉视频直播� Geddy Lee sings in this 1974 hit off of Rush香蕉视频直播檚 self-titled debut album.
Clash - Career Opportunities
Joe Strummer was never one to conform to societal standards and his take on job prospects was much the same. 香蕉视频直播淒o you really wanna be a cop?香蕉视频直播�
Huey Lewis And The News - Workin香蕉视频直播� For A Livin香蕉视频直播�
Lewis really does a good job summing it all up in this 1981 single. 香蕉视频直播淒amned if you do, damned if you don香蕉视频直播檛.香蕉视频直播�
Sam Cooke - Chain Gang
Cooke香蕉视频直播檚 classic 1960 single is a tribute to prisoners, often African American, who had physically laborious tasks forced upon them as a form of punishment. The practice was popular in the southern United States, where infrastructure work was aplenty but funds were not. Chain gangs were never popular in Canada and had been mostly phased out in the States by 1955, but some states began reintroducing them in 1995.
The Simpsons - Union Strike Folk Song
In the 1993 Simpsons episode 香蕉视频直播淟ast Exit to Springfield香蕉视频直播�, Lisa Simpson takes to the guitar to sing about her bumbling father leading a power plant union. 香蕉视频直播淭hey have the plant, but we have the power,香蕉视频直播� a chorus of workers sings.
Solidarity Forever
Perhaps the most well-known union song of all time, this song was originally written by Ralph Chaplin in 1915. Since then, been covered by several popular musicians such as Pete Seger, Tom Morello and Leonard Cohen.
Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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