The views and opinions expressed in this editorial article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of Salina Post or Eagle Media. The editorial is intended to stimulate critical thinking and debate on issues of public interest and should be read with an open mind. Readers are encouraged to consider multiple sources of information and to form their own informed opinions.
By: GREG STEPHENS
Salina Area Workers Coalition
As we fire up the grills and enjoy a well-deserved long weekend, it’s worth remembering that Labor Day honors labor unions and workers across the country for their grit, ingenuity, and tireless efforts that have strengthened and helped build the entire nation.
The first Labor Day started on September 5, 1882. Early Gilded Age workers began the fight for fundamental rights, including the eight-hour workday, the weekend, grievance policies, and other benefits such as vacations, sick leave, unemployment insurance, workers' compensation, the Family Medical Leave Act, and an end to child labor. As labor unions flourished, income inequality fell, and a “Great Levelling” of middle-class growth occurred. However, starting in the 1970s, labor union membership weakened, and the “Great Levelling” began to slip away, resulting in a decline of the middle class over the past 50 years.
Today, pay gaps are widening. In 2024, Fortune Magazine reported that the CEO-to-worker pay ratio ballooned 12.9%, from 560:1 in 2019 to 632:1 for the 100 largest low-wage employers. This indicates that CEOs, on average, earn significantly more than typical workers, and it is more than double the S&P 500 average ratio of 285-to-1.
The “only effective answer to organized greed is organized labor," according to former labor leader Thomas Donahue, and there have been some notable victories for workers in the last several months. Minimum wage laws have increased in some states to reflect the rising cost of living better; however, a significant wealth gap persists between union and non-union workers. Union workers’ wages have increased by 10-20% more than those of non-union workers. They also own more homes compared to non-union workers and have better retirement plans.
However, significant challenges and a renewed assault on fundamental worker protections are present. Aggressive anti-union campaigns are on the rise. There are also efforts to change the criteria for classifying workers as independent contractors, which could make it easier for companies to reclassify employees and strip them of benefits and protections, such as minimum wage and overtime.
We often take Labor Day for granted. As we reflect on Labor Day, the fight for workers' rights is never truly over. It is an ongoing effort that requires constant vigilance and collective action to honor and achieve Lincoln’s vision of “a more perfect Union,” and fully realize the promise of liberty and equality. "If any man tells you he loves America, yet hates labor, he is a liar. If any man tells you he trusts America, yet fears labor, he is a fool."-- Abraham Lincoln.
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