Our guest author is Bernie Burnham, President of the Minnesota AFL-CIO.
Labor Day is upon us, once again, the day set aside to celebrate and honor our labor movement. Our labor movement, where the contributions of working people are recognized as valuable participants in the development and achievements of these United States.
In recent weeks, our AFL-CIO has been on a bus tour traversing the country to remind Americans that “It’s Better in a Union.” Across this nation, union members are standing up and speaking out against the current federal administration and its attacks on labor.
Since he took office, Donald Trump has taken the unprecedented action of illegally cancelling collective bargaining agreements and refusing to recognize workers’ unions at six different federal agencies.
The attacks by this administration on the NLRB (National Labor Relations Board) are outrageous, and we must stand strong as workers and be in solidarity to fight back.
In Minnesota, where I lead our state AFL-CIO, we have worked in collaboration with our lawmakers to win and protect legislation for working people and their families. Examples include defending our Paid Family Leave and Earned Safe and Sick Time, beating back an attack on the state’s ban on noncompete agreements, ensuring the continuance of unemployment benefits for iron miners and hourly school workers, the passing of a $700 million infrastructure package, and the increase in Minnesota’s minimum wage, to name a few.
Our MN AFL-CIO hosts a labor pavilion at the Minnesota State Fair every year. It is here that unions and their members gather to celebrate and speak to issues that are important to them. This “Great Minnesota Get-together” is a perfect place to stand in solidarity with one another and talk to non-union members who stop by about why “It’s Better in a Union.”
It’s Better in a Union because we stick together for each other. It’s Better in a Union because we fight to keep corporate and boss power in check, get more earnings for workers—not cash outs for CEOs—and stop the billionaire takeover, and bring down the cost of necessities like healthcare for our members and all working people.
Today, more than ever, we need to remind one another this is why we fight. Today, more than ever, we need to invite all workers into this fight.
Stand up, fight back, speak your truth. Happy Labor Day!
Love,
The Labor Movement
In solidarity,
Bernie Burnham
MN AFL-CIO President
View the original article and our Inspiration here