Happy labor day!

Myron Yaster MD

We’re off today to celebrate Labor Day. Although for much of the world, May 1 is Labor Day, in the United States it is celebrated on the first Monday of September to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements in the United States.

My parents were garment (“Shmata”) workers and proud, lifelong members of the I.L.G.W.U. (International Ladies Garment Workers' Union). At one time a union with over a million members it no longer exists. When I was growing up most of the clothing sold and worn in the U.S. was made by American workers…now almost non of it is.

Before its demise, the ILGWU made this jingle/commercial and I remember my parents, neighbors, and childhood school friends singing along when it aired on TV…

And this update

Happy labor day and we’ll return with a new PAAD tomorrow!

Send your thoughts and comments to me (myasterster@gmail.com) and I will post in a Friday reader response.