Happy Labor Day
Happy Labor Day!
Labor Day is more than picnics, sales, and the unofficial end to summer. It is a celebration of workers’ rights throughout American history. It is a reminder that progress is never accidental. It takes people coming together to demand change. Unions have led the way for many of the hard-fought rights we enjoy today.
Did you know that the largest labor union in the United States is the National Education Association? The Michigan Education Association is the 2nd-largest union in Michigan, with over 120,000 members. Studies have shown that union members earn higher pay and benefits through union membership and collective bargaining. This contributes to a better workplace environment that benefits students and teachers. When we support unions, we support public schools.
The labor rights movement is intertwined with the fight for children’s rights. Child labor deprives children of their potential, dignity, and childhood. Before reforms were won, children worked in coal mines, glass factories, canaries, and textile plants. It was labor unions demanding social reforms to prevent abusive child labor practices. And it was the American Federation of Labor that won compulsory attendance, requiring parents to send their children to school.
I am thankful for the hard-won victories the labor movement has achieved, such as safer working conditions, the 5-day workweek, and overtime pay. Unions benefit our entire community because we are stronger when we stand together to use our collective voice to advocate for change.
Learn more about my support for the Michigan Education Association, the Saline Education Association, and the Education Support Professionals.
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