Dear neighbors,

Ah, Labor Day: the perfect time to eat an overloaded hotdog while chilling on the beach or watching a parade. It’s also a good time to reflect on the lesser-known history of the holiday, and to ask ourselves what we might learn from its story.

Labor Day has leftist roots. The holiday is often credited to Peter J. McGuire of the American Federation of Labor (AFL), but evidence suggests it was actually Matthew Maguire, a socialist and secretary of the Central Labor Union (CLU) in New York, who organized the first Labor Day parade in 1882. It was another 12 years before the holiday was officially signed into law at the national** level in 1894.

So, why does Peter J. McGuire of the AFL get the credit for the national holiday? To put it simply: politics. The AFL, a relatively conservative group, wanted to present the labor movement as moderate and respectable, distancing themselves from the more radical (read: socialist) ideas that Matthew Maguire and others supported. For example, the AFL limited itself to “skilled” trades and had a reputation of excluding women, Black people, and immigrants. But the CLU, a grassroots initiative local to New York City, was more progressive, with its membership base including both “skilled” and “unskilled” workers from a range of occupations and identities. The AFL was more focused on being “business-friendly,” whereas the CLU was advocating for giving workers control of the means of production and other Marxist ideals. Given the era, and the arc of U.S. history in general, you can see why teaming up with the AFL would have been a safer bet for those in power.

Ironically, Grover Cleveland, the U.S. President who signed Labor Day into law, was no friend to the labor movement. Cleveland made the holiday official shortly after brutally suppressing the Pullman Strike of 1894. During that strike, workers at the Pullman Company in Chicago walked off the job to protest wage cuts and high rents in the company-owned town. The strike quickly spread, leading to a massive boycott by the American Railway Union, disrupting rail traffic across the country.

Cleveland, under pressure from business leaders and worried about the strike’s impact on the economy, sent federal troops in to break it up. The move led to violent clashes, and more than a dozen workers were killed. This aggressive response made Cleveland extremely unpopular with workers and labor unions. The move to establish Labor Day was a way to placate the labor movement without making any real changes. Cleveland and his administration chose the first Monday in September for the holiday, deliberately distancing it from May Day, which was associated with international labor movements and more radical socialist/anarchist ideas.

Sound familiar? Political leaders frequently make symbolic gestures to calm unrest without actually tackling the root problem — like calling for a ceasefire while still supplying the weaponry, or kneeling in kente cloth stoles while continuing to defend the police and prison system. Just as President Cleveland used Labor Day to smooth things over with the labor movement, today’s leaders often embrace aspects of social movements to appear sympathetic while avoiding real change.

In the end, Labor Day’s history serves as a reminder that building a better world requires more than symbolism—it takes sustained pressure and a willingness to confront the root causes of injustice, no matter how well those in power disguise the problem. It takes rejecting the crumbs we’re offered and demanding the real meal we all deserve.

Speaking of a real meal, we hope you enjoyed the spread of Palestinian foods (and mental nourishment) provided at our recent “Palestine 101” event. If you attended, we’d love your feedback on how it went and what you’d like to see from us in the future. Stay tuned for our next 101-style event!

In solidarity,

Left of Lansdowne

P.S. Need harm reduction supplies like Narcan or test strips for fentanyl/tranq? Text or call us at ‪(215) 360-3096‬ to arrange for delivery. Please note that this is a volunteer-run, non-emergency service.

** As long as we’re giving credit where credit’s due, John Patterson Green, the second Black person to serve in the Ohio House of Representatives, introduced Labor Day as an Ohio state holiday in 1890. Green has his own complicated legacy, but definitely deserves some recognition on the Labor Day front.

HOT TOPICS

August was a pretty quiet month for borough hall, with several meetings canceled due to vacations and other scheduling conflicts. Still, there were a few noteworthy events:

• The Borough has purchased laptops for all Council members (yes, with taxpayer money) to conduct Borough business, but some have declined to use them and others who received them have not made time to get them configured. This was after the full council agreed on buying 10 machines. Borough policy dictates that Borough business be done on Borough devices due to potential security breaches and also social media protocols.

• On a related note, all Borough Council and Committee meetings will now be hosted by the Borough’s Zoom account. This has dramatically shortened the turnaround for recordings to be posted online — kudos to Debbie Brodeur.

• The Solicitor dismissed concern from the public after a councilperson switched their committee meeting from hybrid to exclusively in-person at the last minute, back in July. When asked if it was a violation of the Sunshine Act, the solicitor replied, “I don’t know” and would not commit to looking into it.

• The Borough has finally hired a Parks and Recreation Director! Previously, Mark Manfre served as Delaware County’s Parks and Recreation Director for 34 years.

• Borough council passed a motion establishing a Department of Emergency Management. Expect more updates in September.

• Borough council is looking into hiring an assistant to the borough manager, as well as a borough treasurer. They are also looking to contract an HR consultant to update the borough’s employee manual.

• The Borough of Lansdowne is asking for your help to identify the streets in town where speeding is a concern. Please take the survey by 9/15.

ON A LIGHTER NOTE

• Every Thursday in September is Open Sound, a free outdoor concert series. This year, the bands will play in the alley beside Scrappy Cat from 7:00-10:00pm. The final week, 9/26, will overlap with Utility Works’ Open Studios, making it a great opportunity to check out local artists, businesses, and music. Don’t miss it!

• The borough will be hosting a “celebration of labor” career fair on 9/14 from 10:00am–1:00pm at the 20th Century Club

• The Lansdowne Public Library will be hosting a public zine workshop on Saturday, 9/21 from 11:00am-1:00pm. Supplies provided, no experience necessary. All ages, but kids under 10 must be accompanied by an adult.

• Perhaps you’ve noticed the new street signs in town, and are wondering what will happen to the 400+ old ones. The borough is currently working through some legal logistics to be able to sell them to the public. Keep an eye on the borough’s social media accounts for updates.

• Delco residents ages 60 and older may be eligible to receive $50.00 worth of vouchers to be used at the Lansdowne Farmers Market and other neighboring farmers markets. Apply here. 

Upcoming borough meetings: