Labor Day
Rememberance and Action
Publish Date
Dear MAPE members,
Labor Day has always been more than a long weekend at the end of summer. It was born in the late 19th century when workers joined together to demand fair wages, safe conditions and dignity on the job. Their courage and sacrifice laid the foundation for the rights we often take for granted today – the eight-hour workday, weekends, paid leave and the right to organize.
That history matters now more than ever. Across the country, public servants and union members are under attack. The White House has targeted federal workers by stripping protections and eliminating collective bargaining. Here in Minnesota, Governor Walz issued a unilateral Return to Office mandate requiring state employees back in the office, without consulting labor and without regard for the lives of the workers who keep this state running. These actions are reminders that no matter what party holds power, workers only win when we stand together and demand respect.
This year, we honor Labor Day with remembrance and with action. MAPE members have organized against health care takebacks, layoffs and other anti-union tactics. Thousands have shown up at rallies, filled hearings and spoken truth to power. That spirit is what built the labor movement in the first place, and it is what will carry us forward.
This next year will test us. We face decisions in our agencies and at the ballot box that will shape the future of public service. We need members who are ready to lead, to organize and to push back when those in power forget who they serve. Our Union Power Project and our Leadership Academy are designed to give members those tools. Our Political Council is building the infrastructure to make sure workers’ voices are heard in every caucus and every election.
Labor Day is a holiday we must live up to. The workers who came before us refused to accept unsafe conditions, starvation wages or silence in the face of power. We owe them the same courage.
Labor Day reminds us that when workers act collectively, we can change the course of history. We have done it before. We will do it again.
In solidarity,
Megan Dayton
MAPE President