On Labor Day, We Honor Our Past and Look Towards Our Future

This Labor Day, we are proud to celebrate the working men and women in our state, who have strengthened the foundation of the New Jersey labor movement. As you celebrate the day with friends and family, be sure to remember the sacrifices made by working families who have made the rights we enjoy today possible. It is the labor movement that drives our democracy, demanding justice, and equality for all, which is why all New Jersey workers know: It’s better in a union.

Today, we invite you to reflect on what this day means to our labor movement, by reading an op-ed by New Jersey State AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech published in NJ Spotlight News linked here.

We wish you a restful Labor Day as you take the time to enjoy this holiday with your friends and family.

You can find the full text of the article below.

On Labor Day, Commit to Guarding Union Rights Under Threat

By New Jersey State AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech

In 1887, New Jersey was one of the first states to pass a law creating a Labor Day holiday, a testament to the might of our labor movement in our state and all that has been achieved for working people through solidarity. From the very beginning, our state has been at the very forefront of the national labor movement, fighting to improve the quality of life for the men and women who drive our economy each day.

Though often taken for granted, many of the rights and freedoms we exercise today would not be possible if not for the men and women throughout history who refused to accept anything less than, dignity equality, and to have their voices represented and heard. To be where we are today, countless workers fought and died for a better future.

The right to organize and collectively bargain, worker safety regulations, and paid family leave would not exist if not for our unions. Union members often make more in wages than non-union members, are more likely to have health insurance, retirement security, paid sick leave, and safety protections. Time and time again, we have learned that when working people stand together, what seemed to be impossible becomes reality.

At a time of economic uncertainty, the protections and benefits that unions offer workers are more important than ever. Working people are struggling to make ends meet, as each paycheck is stretched thinner than the last. The record tax cuts for billionaires that Trump’s allies in Congress voted for last year are leaving their mark, impacting our healthcare, food assistance, and vital services.

Amidst the affordability crisis, the Trump administration continues to challenge our democracy as we know it and erode workers’ rights. The attacks on the independence of the National Labor Relations Board, which investigates charges of unfair labor practices, are a direct threat to the agency’s ability to enforce the National Labor Relations Act. The ongoing attempts to strip workers of their right to collectively bargain jeopardizes their ability to unionize.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has also been a target from the very beginning of President Trump’s second term, as he seeks to roll back decades of progress on regulations that safeguard workers’ health and safety. Rather than promote equal opportunities for all children regardless of socioeconomic status and background, the Department of Education recently announced it will no longer enforce rules meant to protect civil rights in education and will end its oversight of special-education programs. We must ask ourselves what kind of future the next generations of workers will inherit if working people continue to endure these attacks.

Together, we must demand more for working people by ensuring that our voices are heard in November.

Our democracy doesn’t exist within a vacuum. It demands our enthusiasm and our energy. It demands that we remain engaged and active participants even when it is easier to retreat into complacency. We should all know our voter registration status and should have a plan for how we will cast our ballots. We should all be checking in with our friends and family to hold them accountable for exercising their democracy. Most importantly, we should all know our rights when voting because nothing should stand between us and this fundamental right enshrined in our constitution.

Our futures are on the line, but when working people vote, systemic change is possible. Change starts when we elect union members to office who understand what’s at stake for working people. It’s no accident that in our state we are fortunate to have two union members in Congress, Donald Norcross and Analilia Mejia, and a wealth of pro-worker legislators with proven records of standing by working people.

Throughout history, our union values have remained unchanged. We’re all still fighting for the same things: our democracy, equality, and a better future for the generations of workers to come after us.

We must remember that all our futures rely on our willingness to stand together. Our solidarity will ensure that we remain on the pathway to progress.