This Year, Labor Day Is a Stark Reminder of Continued Fight for Workers' Rights
By Allie Stafford, TN Chapter E-news Editor
As we experience the ongoing effects of the pandemic this Labor Day, worker shortages, stagnant wages, and inadequate healthcare are stark reminders that we have a ways to go in creating a stable workplace.
"Essential workers" is a phrase invented during the pandemic to refer to those jobs that are necessary to keep our society functioning: workers who provide food access, healthcare, sanitation, and utilities. Yet many of the laborers providing these services are not paid living wages, can't afford healthcare, and are in an increasingly precarious position as housing costs rise. While housing and cost of living has increased, the minimum wage has not been raised since 2009, making this the longest period in U.S. history without a wage increase. And when it comes to parental leave, the U.S. is notoriously inadequate compared to other countries.
The origins of Labor Day lie in the international fight for a safe and fair workplace. There are 66 countries in the world that recognize May 1st as International Workers Day. When President Grover Cleveland designated Labor Day as an official national holiday in 1894, he named it in September instead of May 1st, intentionally distancing the spirit of the holiday from the socialist-anarchist-communist activist roots. So while May Day originated in the U.S. as a result of the Haymarket Affair, ironically it is largely unrecognized here. Instead, we have Labor Day on the first Monday in September.
Compared to the bleak and dangerous industrial factories of the late 1800's, the labor movement has forced great progress in the workplace: the 8-hour work day with at least one day off a week, the outlawing of child labor, and safety regulations for workplaces. But the struggle continues. The 2008 coal ash spill in Kingston was a catastrophic failure to protect the safety of workers. As a result of being denied proper protective gear, many workers developed debilitating sicknesses, and some have lost their lives. Survivors are still fighting for justice.
In light of the pandemic, workers are increasingly opting out of returning to low paying jobs with little or no benefits. Recently, the city of Chattanooga, Tenn. was forced to pause its curbside recycling program due to a lack of drivers. In its next budget, the city "expects to increase pay for drivers and other essential workers.. in order to combat the ongoing worker shortage and resulting service impacts," according to Chief of Staff Brent Goldberg.
While wage increases are a huge step in the right direction, we need to do even more to cultivate the health and wellness of ourselves and the Earth. We are all connected. This Labor Day, remember that all "essential workers" deserve access to those same essential services they are providing: affordable food, education, healthcare, and housing in an environment with clean air and water.
