Labor Day Reminds Us What American Workers Deserve

As we mark another Labor Day, I want to remind you—and our nation—that this holiday is more than a day for barbecues, sales, and long weekends. Labor Day was created to honor the American worker, the men and women whose labor built this country and whose work continues to keep it running. Yet today, millions of those same workers cannot afford the basics of life: rent, food, and healthcare—even while working full-time jobs. That is unacceptable in the wealthiest nation on Earth. The promise of the American Dream cannot survive if a 40-hour workweek does not allow someone to live with dignity. This is not a radical idea. It is not “woke.” It is common sense, and it is standard practice across most of the industrialized world. In France, Germany, and the Netherlands, workers not only earn a livable wage but also enjoy shorter workweeks and guaranteed paid leave. In Australia, the minimum wage is more than $23 an hour (in U.S. dollars). Meanwhile, American workers are told to survive on less than half of that, all while healthcare, rent, and food prices skyrocket. Labor Day should not be a symbolic holiday. It should be a reminder of your responsibility to protect and strengthen the American workforce. Passing policies that guarantee a livable wage, fair working conditions, and access to affordable healthcare are the truest ways to honor the labor movement and the people who keep this country moving forward. A 40-hour workweek should provide security and dignity—not poverty and struggle. It’s time for Congress to act like it believes in the American worker.