Labor Day is often thought of as the unofficial end of summer, the start of the school year in Washington, and a time to gather with friends and family. While those traditions matter, the true meaning of Labor Day is about honoring the workers whose labor sustains this country.

It is the collective effort of workers, our physical and mental contributions, that drives the economy. Without workers, nothing moves forward. Without unions, those workers are left at the mercy of corporate interests.

Because of organized labor, we have the 40-hour workweek, weekends, paid time off, higher wages, safer working conditions, access to healthcare, and the end of child labor. Washington nurses know this firsthand: we have some of the strongest wages and protections in the nation because of union strength. These gains do not only benefit union members but raise standards for all workers.

None of this was freely given. It was won through struggle, and often at great cost. Workers lost their lives in tragedies like the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, and many faced violence for demanding safe workplaces and fair pay. Labor Day is a reminder of those sacrifices and a call to protect what has been won.

Labor Rights Under Renewed Attack

Support for unions in America is higher than it has been in decades, with 70 percent of the public viewing unions favorably (Gallup, 2024). Yet at the very moment unions are gaining strength, labor rights are facing historic challenges.

This week, the National Labor Relations Board, the institution created in the 1930s to protect workers’ rights, was declared unconstitutional. Board members have been dismissed without cause, leaving too few to enforce labor law. Federal unions, including those in the VA, have been stripped away by executive action.

These attacks are not about party politics. They are about power, and whether working people will continue to have a voice on the job.

That is why WSNA and our parent union, the American Federation of Teachers, are supporting protests across the country this Labor Day. We invite you to join one near you. Visit www.workerslaborday.org to find a protest, or join the Workers Over Billionaires protest in Bellingham this Labor Day from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Cornwall Avenue.

Together, we honor the past and fight for the future.

In solidarity,
Robin Cully, Co-Chair
Laura Bayes, Co-Chair
Jenn Engelhart, Co-Secretary
Laura Sherwood, Co-Secretary
Tracy Pullar, Treasurer
Amber Pouley, Grievance Officer
Stacy Gaggia Libby, Grievance Officer
Ben McKee, Grievance Officer
Celeste Montoy-Seimears, Membership Officer
Tracy Taylor, Membership Officer
Kristin Malmo, Communications Officer
Kelly Carroll, Communications Officer
Errin Hull, Co-Occupational Health and Safety Officer
Jessica Moran, Co-Occupational Health and Safety Officer

WSNA Nurse Representative Jared Richardson, jrichardson@wsna.org