Labor Day roots run deep in N.J.'s fight for worker protections

In 1887, New Jersey was one of the first states to pass a law creating a Labor Day holiday, a testament to the strength of our state's labor movement and all that has been achieved for working people through solidarity. From the very beginning, our state has been at the forefront of the national labor movement, fighting to improve the quality of life for the men and women who drive our economy each day. Though often taken for granted, many of the rights and freedoms we enjoy today would not be possible without the men and women throughout history who refused to accept anything less than dignity, equality and a voice in the decisions that affected their lives. To get where we are today, countless workers fought and died for a better future. The right to organize and collectively bargain, worker safety regulations and paid family leave would not exist without our unions. Union members often earn higher wages than nonunion workers and are more likely to have health insurance, retirement security, paid sick leave and workplace safety protections. Time and again, we have learned that when working people stand together, what once seemed impossible becomes reality. Rising challenges for working people At a time of economic uncertainty, the protections and benefits that unions provide are more important than ever. Working people are struggling to make ends meet as each paycheck is stretched thinner than the last. The tax cuts for billionaires that President Donald Trump's allies in Congress supported last year are leaving their mark, affecting health care, food assistance and other vital services. Amid the affordability crisis, the Trump administration continues to challenge democratic institutions and weaken workers' rights. Attacks on the independence of the National Labor Relations Board, which investigates charges of unfair labor practices, threaten the agency's ability to enforce the National Labor Relations Act. Ongoing attempts to strip workers of their right to collectively bargain jeopardize their ability to organize. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration also has been a target since the beginning of President Trump's second term as he seeks to roll back decades of progress on regulations that protect workers' health and safety. Rather than promote equal opportunity for all children regardless of socioeconomic status or background, the Department of Education recently announced it would no longer enforce rules intended to protect civil rights in education and would end its oversight of special education programs. We must ask ourselves what kind of future the next generation of workers will inherit if these attacks continue. Democracy requires participation Together, we must demand more for working people by making sure our voices are heard in November. Our democracy does not exist in a vacuum. It demands our enthusiasm and energy. It requires that we remain engaged and active participants, even when it is easier to retreat into complacency. We should all know our voter registration status and have a plan for casting our ballots. We should also check in with friends and family and encourage them to participate in our democracy. Most importantly, we should know our rights as voters because nothing should stand between us and this fundamental right enshrined in our Constitution. Our futures are on the line, but when working people vote, systemic change is possible. Change begins when we elect union members to public office who understand what is at stake for working people. It is no accident that New Jersey is fortunate to have two union members in Congress, Donald Norcross and Analilia Mejia, along with many pro-worker legislators who have consistently stood with working people. Throughout history, our union values have remained unchanged. We are still fighting for the same things: democracy, equality and a better future for the generations of workers who will come after us. We must remember that our future depends on our willingness to stand together. Our solidarity will help ensure that we remain on the path to progress. Charles Wowkanech is the president of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO.