Labor Day isn’t just about picnics and barbecues; the holiday serves as a moment to reflect on the choices that will define our future.
With just nine weeks to go until one of the most consequential elections in modern history, workers across America are at a crossroads. Early voting begins soon, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
At the heart of this election is the future of our workforce. There is a fierce battle underway to shape perceptions over which party can claim the mantle of standing with workers, especially union members and workers fighting to form unions — a critical voting bloc with the power to decide elections up and down the ballot in November.
But the facts are clear: Democrats are the party of labor, and the Biden-Harris administration has been the most pro-labor administration in our lifetime.
From Day One, this administration has prioritized working families, investing in good union jobs and championing the care economy, an often-overlooked foundation of our society. Care workers, many of whom are women of color, provide essential services to our communities, caring for children, the elderly and people with disabilities. They are the backbone of our society, yet their contributions have long been undervalued and underpaid.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, care workers were on the front lines, risking their lives to protect and serve others. Recognizing their invaluable role, the Biden-Harris administration took bold action to support these workers. They created new rules for safe staffing in nursing homes, made historic investments in home care and child care, and introduced policies that ensure families have the support they need to thrive.
But that doesn’t mean the Harris-Walz campaign can take support from union members and union households for granted. A key component of their worker-centered agenda must be continued investment in the care economy. This includes fighting for paid family and medical leave, affordable child care and home care for older adults and people with disabilities. These policies not only uplift care workers but also strengthen our communities and our economy.
As we look ahead, the choice we face in this election couldn’t be more stark. One path leads to a brighter, more inclusive future for all workers — a future where economic, gender and racial justice go hand in hand. The other path seeks to turn back the clock, dismantling the progress we’ve made and putting corporate interests ahead of working families.
One particularly troubling sign of the opposition’s intentions is the Heritage Foundation’s recently unveiled Project 2025. This sweeping, 900-page plan outlines a vision for a second term under Donald Trump that would devastate workers’ rights.
Crafted by Trump’s closest allies, Project 2025 would make it easier for employers to dismantle unions mid-contract and ban all public employee unions. It would allow states to outlaw labor unions, eliminate overtime protections and ignore the national minimum wage. They even want to roll back child labor laws that protect kids from dangerous jobs in meatpacking plants and mines.
Despite Team Trump’s attempts to distance itself from these proposals, the facts speak for themselves: More than 140 people who worked in Trump’s first administration contributed to this blueprint. The same individuals who orchestrated policies that hurt workers during his first term are now plotting an even more aggressive anti-worker agenda for a potential second term.
In contrast, Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) are dedicated to ensuring that workers’ rights are protected and expanded. Harris’s commitment to signing the Protect the Right to Organize (PRO) Act into law is just one example of how this administration will continue to advocate for higher wages, better benefits and safer working conditions. Walz has already demonstrated his leadership in Minnesota by delivering on many of these policies, proving himself a steadfast ally of unions and working families.
This Labor Day, as we celebrate the hard-won victories of the labor movement, we must also remember the work that lies ahead. Unions are not just crucial to our economic future, they are vital to the future of our democracy. Research consistently shows that when workers have more power, states develop more equitable economies, stronger social structures and healthier democracies. In these polarized times, worker organizing also leads to greater civic engagement and increased support for policies that benefit all communities.
Every day from now until Nov. 5, we will demonstrate that it is Democrats who truly have workers’ backs. The Biden-Harris administration has shown that with strong leadership and a commitment to justice, we can build a future that works for everyone — not just the wealthy few.
April Verrett is president of SEIU and Pamela Shifman is president of the Democracy Alliance.