On Labor Day, the Congressional Black Caucus ( CBC ) used its hour of special order speeches to discuss the importance of the labor movement and how unions have been integral to improving the lives of African Americans. Communications Workers of America ( CWA ) compiled this video of the highlights of the speeches by various members of the caucus.
Today, on Labor Day, we celebrate the incredible contributions of America’s working people. If you're celebrating at home or want to see what's going on in your area, check out the “ You Work Hard. You’ve Earned It ” Labor Day website.
Labor Day is an opportunity to take stock of the ways workers are honored and respected, writes the Most Rev. Stephen E. Blaire, bishop of Stockton, Calif., in the annual United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Labor Day statement.
Here are excerpts from the bishops’ message. Read the full message here .
Earlier this year, Pope Francis pointed out:
Work is fundamental to the dignity of a person....It gives one the ability to maintain oneself, one's family, to contribute to the growth of one's own nation.
The Beatles first visited Detroit just before Labor Day in 1964, and they gushed with admiration for the Motown sound. Detroit hummed with industry then, like the Beatle’s own Liverpool, England, with its bustling ports and pop music scene. Both industrial cities would soon flounder, losing 40 percent of their populations over the next 30 years.
Labor Day weekend provides a unique opportunity for faith communities, workers, worker advocates and the labor movement to rediscover their common bonds: social justice, equality, the dignity and respect of all persons, economic justice and fair treatment in the workplace.
The popular social sharing website Upworthy is tackling the minimum wage, the dignity of work and other important issues around Labor Day during its Twitter chat this Thursday at 3 p.m. EDT.
Join the conversation using the hashtag #UpChat, and don't forget to check out the AFL-CIO Labor Day website for shareable graphics and placards .
We’re just a week from Labor Day 2013—the day each year that we celebrate the incredible contributions of America’s working people. On our new “ You Work Hard. You’ve Earned It ” Labor Day website, you can find:
Last week we asked you to check out a Labor Day celebration nearby and thank the people whose work you appreciate by sending an e-card or video . Here’s a snapshot of some of the creative ways people celebrated Labor Day yesterday:
In Louisville, Colo., union members passed out Labor Day thank-you cards to firefighters, transportation workers and even Rocky, the NBA Denver Nuggets mascot, and Bernie the St. Bernard, mascot for the NHL Colorado Avalanche. View pictures on the Colorado AFL-CIO Facebook page .
Those of us who spent Labor Day thanking people for their hard work and reflecting on the contributions of the labor movement got the point of the day all wrong.
Fortunately, Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor was on Twitter to set us right.
Promoting policies that strengthen the working and middle class is a major goal of the labor delegates who represent working people at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Charlotte, N.C., this week.
Speaking at the DNC CarolinaFest on Labor Day in Charlotte, AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker said:
We built this country together. Every one of us lends a hand. We do it every day. All work has value. Our work connects us to each other. And together, we are better….All work is honorable. All work has dignity and is worthy of respect. And decent pay. And good benefits. I’m talking about the work of all of us . Not just some of us. Not just the 1%. All of us. Each and every single one of us.
It’s been four years since low-wage workers got a raise. Sign the petition to tell Congress it’s time to raise the minimum wage.
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