White City, Ore. — Crowds gathered in TouVelle State Park Monday for live music and a free picnic in celebration of Labor Day. While dozens came together for hot dogs and hamburgers the event was about more than just a barbecue.
Put on by the Southern Oregon Central Labor Council participants celebrated the efforts of generations of working classes who fought for worker’s rights.
“People died on the picket lines getting shot so people could have weekends. And we just kind of take it for granted and think ‘I’m entitled weekends’ or ‘if i don’t work weekends it kind of comes along with the job,’ but either way someone fought really hard so people have those rights,” Oregon AFL-CIO Staff Member Shaun Franks said.
More of those rights include the eight-hour work day, 40-hour work week, retirement benefits, and holidays. Members of local labor unions also spoke about current issues Oregon workers face and the steps they’re taking to overcome them.
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