Labor Day - a day to relax and savor the end of summer and the last long weekend of sunshine and fun, right? This may be how most Americans see Labor Day today, but it is far from its true meaning which dates back to the height of the industrial revolution.

Labor Day was originally established as a day to honor those who toiled twelve hours a day, seven days a week to keep American running in the late 1800’s. Recognizing the history of Labor Day may enhance the holiday’s meaning for you and your family. Here are a few facts you may not have known about this day that is dedicated to America’s workers:

There are two versions of who created Labor Day:

• Peter J. McGuire, secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, suggested the day be put aside to honor those “who from rude nature have delved and carved all grandeur we behold.”

• The second Labor Day creation version involves Matthew Maguire, secretary of the Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, NJ, who proposed the holiday while acting as secretary of the Central Labor Union in 1882. Maguire planned to have a picnic and demonstration in honor of American laborers.

Tuesday, September 5th, 1882 marked the first Labor Day celebration in New York City when 10,000 workers took an unpaid holiday and marched in Union Square marking the first Labor Day parade. These participants vocalized grievances with employers as well as celebrated the American workers’ accomplishments. The next year a similar demonstration was held on the same day. Oregon, Colorado, New York, Massachusetts and New Jersey were the first states to declare Labor Day a state holiday. On June 28th, 1894 the first Monday in September was declared Labor Day by President Grover Cleveland.

Labor Day celebrations have shifted from parades and demonstrations to speeches and picnics. Although Labor Day traditions have evolved, the American labor force still deserves celebration.

The American Labor force today is a far cry for where it began in the 1800s. Although an eight hour work day and a minimum wage may seem standard today, this was not so when Labor was first celebrated:

What became known as “Haymarket Square’ occurred on May 4th, 1886 when police broke up a riot in which seven policemen and four people were killed along with 100 wounded. The attention gathered from this gave steam to the labor reform movement, causing the work day to change from twelve to eight hours.

In 1938, Congress passed the Fair Labor Standards Act making the minimum wage $0.25 an hour and a maximum of 44 hours in a work week. The Act has been revised multiple times, eventually raising the minimum wage and cutting down work weeks.  In 1962, the Work Hours Act provided time and a half pay for days worked over eight hours or weeks worked over 40 hours.

The changes made due to Labor Day and the American labor force in the 1880s proves there is much to be appreciated. Without this day and those who created it, eight hour work days and a minimum wage would not be possible. Weekends also came to be because of these fearless fighters, and most notably the last long weekend that rounds out the summer.

So turn on the sprinkler and sip some lemonade, but don’t forget to give a toast to those who made it possible.

Have a safe and happy holiday weekend from your friends at MCT.

INDUSTRY NEWS

EMIGRATION IMPACT IN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM  SUMMARY  Ecuador, similar to other Latin American countries, has a high exodus of emigrants to other countries resulting in changes or economic fluctuations in regions with higher emigration levels.  During the last few years we have experienced noticeable changes starting with a gender mix or composition which at this time is commensurate to changes in the affected regions and even in the emigrant’s destination. During the last ten years the provinces of Pichincha and Guayas, which are among the most productive regions of Ecuador, has shown a larger emigration of residents towards Spain. Even though these types of phenomena generate a significant incoming flow of money, this has shown little or no positive effect in the economic level of the recipients.  We do recognize that the influx of dollars sent from abroad has not only reduced the Trade Deficit but has also increased available funds for expenditures by the recipients; however, these benefits played a reversed effect in that the consumer or recipient is now depending on this type of income instead of being part of the working force as before and has abandoned the concept of productivity. We all know how important it is for the development of a nation to be able to have Social Economic improvements such as education, but sadly in Ecuador this is not the case.  For example the province of Cañar is perhaps the region with the largest emigration and the one with the greatest percentage of immigrants compared to the region’s population, and the amount of funds received from abroad represent almost 70% of the gross income not counting the petroleum industry.   This “new wealth” or source of income placed little or no influence in the educational development of the region as shown by the high percentages of emigrants and lack of improvement in school registrations.  These elements added to the results of the 2006 survey “Social Economic Conditions in Ecuador”, clearly show the lack of interest to continue their education due to the opportunity to travel abroad to other nations where even though the immigrant may not have necessary education, he/she are able to obtain work with much higher income than what they may be able to obtain in their country of origin. Additionally, I must also mention the fact that the Ecuadorian government has failed to invest necessary funds to improve and or support growth or provide incentives for citizens to continue their education.

Articulo de Monica Mancheno. 

El efecto de la migración en los resultados educativosResumen              El Ecuador al igual que muchos países latinoamericanos, posee altos flujos migratorios hacia el exterior, los cuales han determinado cambios en los resultados económicos de las regiones que poseen altos niveles migratorios.  En los últimos años el comportamiento migratorio del país posee características migratorias cambiantes, que van desde la composición por género, que en la actualidad es más equitativa, hasta cambios en las regiones de origen y destinos de los emigrantes.  Es así que en la última década el mayor flujo migratorio se origina en regiones de alta productividad como son Pichincha y Guayas, y el principal destino es España.             Si bien es cierto, el mayor beneficio que generan fenómenos de esta naturaleza, es el ingreso de remesas a los países, el efecto de las mismas no ha superado el nivel estrictamente económico.  En el Ecuador éste ha permitido mejores resultados en la Balanza de Pagos, y adicionalmente un incremento en los niveles de consumo de los habitantes, pero también ha significado una mayor dependencia de las regiones a este tipo de ingresos, que han dejado de lado el desarrollo productivo que deberían generar.  Adicionalmente, los efectos sobre variables de gran importancia para el desarrollo socioeconómico de las naciones,  como lo es la educación, no han sido los más alentadores.               La provincia de Cañar es de las provincias ecuatorianas que  mayor historial migratorio posee, adicionalmente la de mayor porcentaje de emigrantes respecto a su población total, y el flujo de remesas que ellos generan representa cerca del 70% del Valor agregado Bruto no petrolero. Pero estas características no han permitido un desarrollo educativo importante en la región, tal y como lo revelan los altos porcentajes de deserción y no promoción escolar registrados en la provincia.  Estos elementos, más los encontrado en la Encuesta de Condiciones de Vida del Ecuador 2006,  evidencian el bajo interés de seguir adquiriendo años de escolaridad debido al alto costo de oportunidad que representa no viajar a una nación en donde, el emigrante aún de poseer bajos niveles educativos recibe ingresos superiores a los que en iguales circunstancias recibiría en el país de origen.  Adicionalmente a lo expuesto, es conveniente señalar que el sistema educativo ecuatoriano y su baja inversión han determinado bajo niveles de incentivos a continuar los estudios.

To all my family, friends, clients, business associates and acquiantances:

I wish you the best of the best for 2008 and for ever!!!!!!

I also wish you good health, but most of all I pray to God that he grants you the ability and capacity to love and also accept to be loved by someone.

Happy New Year 2008 and be safe.

Crea en si mismo y obtenga el Sueño Americano! Como espera que otros crean en Ud cuando Ud no cree en si mismo?

Tambien les dejare saber que me ha dado exito en mi carrera de Real Estate Broker, Mortgage Broker, Business Broker, Property Management, e Instructor de Instituto de Bienes Raices.

Believe in yourself and reach the American Dream!How can you expect others to believe in you when you don’t believe in yourself?Is not as easy as just repeating “I Believe in myself”.  It is a process that requires discipline, analysis, planning, an honest evaluation, firm determination and the willingness to take risks.

Ask me how I got to believe in myself. Ask how I transformed myself from an individual that couldn’t speak English, very quiet and timid, to the powerful speaker I am today. I will tell you about my life experiences… how I arrived in USA and three months later joined the US Air Force (without knowing how to speak or understand English); how after I was discharged I got a job at a Bank as a “Teller” and became a Bank President in only 8 years!  Oh yes, I can tell you first hand that I reached the American Dream in the Land of Opportunity. I firmly believe the same result is available for those who truly have the desire and conviction to succeed, who really want to go somewhere in life and who really want to be someone who has made a difference.

In addition, I will also let you know how I became successful as a Real Estate Broker, Mortgage Broker, Business Broker, Property Management and Real Estate Instructor.

 There are certain events in one’s life that remain in our minds because they meant so much to us.

Back when I became the President and Chairman of the Board of the Ellis National Bank in Tampa, Florida, I receive a plaque from my friend Tom Brown. I still have this plaque hanging on my office wall. I do not know the author (if you know please contact me and let me know his/her name). This plaque says:

“It is my right to be uncommon, if I can.  I seek opportunity, I want to take a calculated risk, to dream, to build, to fail and to succeed.  I prefer the challenges of life to a guaranteed existence, it is my heritage to think and to act for myself, to enjoy the benefits of my creations and to face the world and say with pride ” with God’s help, this I have done”

Very profound message.  Makes us think if we would rather have a dull guaranteed existence without challenges or motivations, or if we are willing to take a risk that brings us  excitement, wonderful creations, originality, motivation and new opportunities.

Make your decision ……..  is only the beginning of the rest of your life.