Democratic and Liberal political analysis and commentary

This is a replica of my favorite bumper sticker in my extensive collection. "The Labor Movement, The Folks Who Brought You the Weekend." The words say it all. All of us, whether we acknowledge it or not, owe a debt of gratitude to the first brave men and women who stood up for worker's rights.

You can read here about the beginnings of the labor movement and the first Labor Day, but today I wanted to reflect on the movement today and the lasting significance it still has on the lives of working people in our country.

I perused the AFL-CIO Web site today, and it truly is excellent.  There are so many current issues in our country that the labor movement gets involved with to ensure that "we the people" have a voice in the negotiations. And as always, unions champion the rights of all working people, not just paying members of labor unions.

Within the last year, Americans making minimum wage got their very first raise in nearly a decade. The labor movement was solidly behind this legislation, even though it had to be tacked on to an Iraq spending bill to get President Bush to sign it.

Worker safety is another hallmark issue of the labor movement. According to the new 2007 State of Worker's Health and Safety report:

Progress in protecting workers’ safety and health is slowing, and for some groups of workers jobs are becoming more dangerous. The most recent job fatality data (2005) show 5,734 fatal workplace injuries reported in 2005, with significant increases in fatalities among Hispanic, Black or African–American, foreign-born and young workers. As the economy, the workforce and hazards are changing, we are falling further and further behind in our efforts to protect workers from new and existing problems.

Under the Bush Administration, regulatory activity at the Occupational Safety and HealthAdministration (OSHA) has ground to a halt. Important standards close to completion at the end of the Clinton Administration—including a standard on employer payment for personal protective equipment—have been withdrawn or delayed repeatedly by the Bush Administration.

Overall, dozens of OSHA and MSHA standards were pulled from the Administration’s regulatory agenda, including MSHA standards on mine rescue teams, self-contained self-rescue devices and escape ways and refuges which may have helped to prevent the fatalities at the Sago mine. Some new mine safety rules are now being developed and issued, but only as a result of legislation enacted in the wake of the Sago disaster.

Unions also lead the way in advocating for women's rights on the job, insistence on excellent health care and pension security.

In an era of unprecedented corporate greed and an increasing disparity between C-suite salaries and the wage of the average worker, unions are more relevant than ever. This Labor Day, while you are enjoying a well-deserved day off with your family and friends, raise a toast to the workers who continue to make this country great.