CLEVELAND, September 1 — The following is a statement by BLET National President Don M. Hahs on Labor Day 2006.
The U.S. Department of Labor describes Labor Day this way: “It is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity and well-being of our country.”
While the holiday is intended to be a tribute to the contributions of workers, we unfortunately find that these contributions are now less valued than they have been at any time since the exploitive days before the dawn of the labor movement.
Ever since the first Labor Day was celebrated on September 5, 1882, in New York City, we have seen that big business will do everything in their power to positively impact their bottom line while negatively impacting the workers whose labor creates profit. Now, they have the government on their side.
As we have seen recently, the government and big business are conspiring against workers by crafting policies that are intended to hurt the working men and women instead of celebrating them as the back bone of society.
We have watched as big business sends jobs overseas, we have watched the government roll back worker protections, we have watched as our safety and security have been compromised. And we must watch no longer.
Big business and the government have done everything in their power to ensure a weak labor movement. Why? A weak labor movement cannot best represent the interests of workers.
In the past year, there have been headlines declaring the death of the labor movement – that it is too divided to have any impact on our nation. It is the labor movement’s task to ensure that the contributions of workers – union and non-union alike – are valued. In order to do this, we must work together. The issues are far too important for a fractured movement to take on.
However, the labor movement has shown time and time again that we can look past our philosophical differences and work in solidarity to assist the working men and women that we represent. We realize that the problems facing the workers of this nation are far too important and we must work together. And so, we are working together.
We certainly have our work cut out for us, but we realize that the stakes are far too high to lose. Our differences are not too great to overcome. We know that whatever our differences, solidarity is the most important thing. We need to work hard for the working men and women of this nation, and we need to come together to transform government from a tool of the bosses to a servant of the people.