9/6/2021

Sept. 6, 2021

My Dear Friend & POTUS, JRB,

            It’s Labor Day. It’s supposed to be a “day of deliverance from absurd economic conditions & cruel burdens.” Heather Cox Richardson reminds us that Frances Perkins spearheaded much of the labor reform last century, I hope you give her a shout-out. I’m afraid there are still workers in the USA who are over-worked, under-paid, having to commute long distances & live-in substandard housing. We still have work to do.

Now that the pandemic has demonstrated that we can’t live without our labor force things might improve. It’s still a challenge to figure out why the employment figures were disappointing in August even though companies are desperate for workers. The G claims that labor has more power now than it’s had in years with McDonald’s beating the bushes to staff their cash registers & ski resorts, like Sugarbush, scrambling to get H-2B visas for seasonal workers. I hope that Walmart & Amazon employees figure out a way to unionize so they can collectively bargain for safer, more secure working conditions.

            As I constantly tell my students, I have the best job in the world that allows me to bring my heart, soul & intellect to my work. I pick the projects that I want to work on & get to interact with idealistic young people. I feel so blessed. Would that everyone could experience the pride & satisfaction that I do on my job. Let’s keep working on that!

            While you are in Wilmington today, go over to the PO downtown which was recently named for Mary Ann Chadd Cary, Black abolitionist, who Frederick Douglass called “a person of uncomparable zeal & commendable ability.” Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester spearheaded the renaming campaign because she believes, “you have to see it to be it.”

            Please ask Sec. of State Blinken to continue to keep an eye on Myanmar.

            BYBS,