There's something a little perverse about the anti-worker Republican Party commencing its quadrennial confab in St. Paul, Minnesota on Labor Day. Fortunately for all Minnesotans, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is staging a far more appropriate celebration this Monday on Harriet Island, just across the Mississippi River from the Republican National Convention.

The Take Back Labor Day Festival aims to combine world-class music, programs on cutting-edge activism and family fun in an all-day gala to to celebrate workers' historic achievements and to promote a new vision for the 21st century that includes affordable, quality healthcare for everyone; wages that can support families'; unfettered freedom to join unions without intimidation or sanction and true retirement security.

The core of the festival is a veritable who's who of lefty musicians, all of whom are as distinguished as much by their musical accomplishments as by their enduring support for the rights of working people. The concert portion of the day runs from 3:00pm to 7:00 and features Billy Bragg, Tom Morello, Mos Def, Steve Earle, Allison Moorer and Pharcyde.

In addition to the concert, the festival will include single-issue activist tents, a YouTube station where festival-goers can record and upload video, a fully equipped blogger lounge, a large audience-participation art project and a children's area with story-tellers, kid's music, drum circles, giant hula hoops, jingle dancers, art activities, face painters, magicians, jugglers and balloon games.

Click here for tickets (they're only $10!) and other info and watch the Take Back Labor Day site for info on podcasts if, like me, you'll be far from St. Paul this Monday.

As an extra Labor Day bonus, watch this video featuring Billy Bragg singing his classic, There is Power in a Union, along with an evocative clip roll celebrating US labor history.

Then, check out this clip of the great Pete Seeger leading a chorus through Solidarity Forever -- the classic anthem of the US labor movement.

Finally, here's a rare clip of the dearly departed, much-lamented genius of the American folk scene Phil Ochs performing his Ballad of Joe Hill, a history lesson in song detailing the life and death of the Swedish-American labor activist, songwriter, and member of the Industrial Workers of the World who was executed for murder after a controversial trial in 1915.

Comments (14)

1. Thanks for the rare Ochs piece. Ochs was assaulted in Lagos, his wind pipe broken. He was never able to sing again, could barely speak, and greatly depressed, ended it.

   Unlike Dylan, who derided Ochs to his face -- "You're just a pamphleteer, you're nothing." -- he did not scramble after money or care about fashions.

   I'm grateful to have known him & his work.

   Posted by sloper at 08/29/2008 @ 5:13pm

2. see happy,

   mccain is irrelevant.

   it's all about mr. obama.

   Posted by frosty zoom at 08/29/2008 @ 5:13pm

3. They MAY delay it, PETER...

   depending on when "Fay" might hit New Orleans.

   Can't be seen with balloons and streamers....if Jefferson Parish is under 6 feet of aqua and "images" from 3 years ago keep popping up!

   Posted by Maskdelta at 08/29/2008 @ 8:52pm

4. Heres to the singers & songwriters fighting to keep slavery at bay, astoundingly enough, even in the 21st century.

   Posted by Sorelish at 08/29/2008 @ 9:52pm

5. Labor day is about honoring those who work, not unionists who strive to negotiate mediocrity and poor productivity.

   Posted by lvliberty1 at 08/29/2008 @ 11:33pm

6. Posted by lvliberty1 at 08/29/2008 @ 11:33pm

   Pretty sure, Labor Day would, under YOUR definitions, LL, be "Marxist".

   Posted by Maskdelta at 08/30/2008 @ 10:07am

7. lvliberty-You are correct.The non union crap that we are buying from places like China will last generations unlike the union made toys that I passed down to my grand kids.

   Posted by i'm nobody at 08/30/2008 @ 11:50am

8. Labor day is about honoring those who work, not unionists who strive to negotiate mediocrity and poor productivity.

   Posted by lvliberty1 at 08/29/2008 @ 11:33pm

   unions are in large part responsible for the middle class of the 20th century.

   good-bye, middle class. it's been fun.

   now, back to job #4.

   Posted by frosty zoom at 08/30/2008 @ 1:04pm

9. Happy-Americans demanded cheap crap, by buying cheap foreign crap, and so the union workers started to give Americans what they wanted.Cheap crap.

   Posted by i'm nobody at 08/30/2008 @ 2:44pm

10. HAPP, did "the unions" decide to make SUVs and put hybrids on the backburner in the 90s...

    and force Detroit to play "catch-up" (again)?

    or was it ...management???

    Posted by Maskdelta at 08/30/2008 @ 9:41pm

11. One of the primary reasons US automakers have made shitty products is because they have to cut costs where other countries' automakers do not. The difference is that other countries' automakers don't have to worry about health insurance, so they did not have that cost.

    In every totalitarian society the rulers have tried to control workers by not allowing freedom of association because that is the road to erosion of concentration of wealth and power.

    Indeed, which side are you on?

    Posted by onthehelm at 08/30/2008 @ 11:43pm

12. Labor day was a holiday created at the behest of labor unions, so yes, labor unions can celebrate it. In fact, unionists are the only ones who aren't afraid to march in parades and declare their solidarity with each other as fellow American workers! As for celebrating those who work,,,well, I know of very few people who don't like to work. In fact, the few people I do know are all in management! As for the bad apples who rip off their locals, I say off with their heads! But this is not to be used as an excuse to prevent union organizing. Instead, it's an incentive for every union member to make sure that their management is on the up and up. Kinda like what we're supposed to do with our government.

    Posted by Bullet at 09/01/2008 @ 09:06am

13. Hope they had a great time. Frankly I'd rather spend time with the family, some friends, Steaks and burgers, but that's just me.

    You know, the old - Dun Dun DUNNNNNNN! traditional way (ARGGGHHHH Gasp) without- Dun Dun DUNNNNNNNNNNNN! Guilt!

    But more power to SEIU if thats their thing.

    Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 09/02/2008 @ 1:19pm

14. Why the separate rallies? Instead of joining with thousands of peace activists and other labor unions at the main march and rally, SEIU divides forces by organizing their own concert on the other side of the river? What happened to "Stronger Together"?

    Posted by LaborActivist at 09/02/2008 @ 2:59pm