As the Summer comes to an end, the weather begins to cool and the leaves begin to change, we get to celebrate our holiday – Labor Day.
Throughout the long history of this holiday and labor movement, we have seen workers flooding the streets advocating for improved rights and freedoms for working people and making their voices heard. The labor movement has seen countless victories accomplishing just that for workers across this country – fighting to ensure that as the times change, workers are not left behind.
Yet, as we know, the fight for fairness is a long one, and it is one that continues to be increasingly difficult at a time when workers are bearing the brunt of unjust systems and unlawful attacks from our government. But with every new challenge that arises, so does the courage to overcome them.
This year, in the midst of growing hostility from the presidential administration toward our communities and working-class families, we have stood firm. Together, we’ve fought back, defending and expanding the rights of working families across our state and beyond.
Across Maryland, our members are making history. At the University of Maryland Medical Center, residents and fellows voted unanimously to ratify a historic union contract – the first of any residents and fellows in our state. Faculty at Frederick Community College and Howard Community College ratified their first-ever union contracts, putting into action for the first time the State Legislature’s 2022 expansion of collective bargaining rights.
Every day, our members and all of Maryland’s workers are standing up, organizing, mobilizing, and fighting for all Marylanders, because we know that the power of our unions is the only power we can use to truly ensure that all people have the wages, benefits, workplaces, and livelihoods that they deserve.
In August, that power was on full display when AFT Maryland successfully won our lawsuit against the Trump Administration's unlawful “Dear Colleague Letter” threatening to withhold federal funding from schools that teach critical history, sociology, or lessons that reference race, or that provide support to students through DEI programs.
Together with our partners, we secured an important win that protects educators’ ability to do their jobs and ensures that all students have access to the inclusive, quality education they deserve.
And that is what today is about – our power. As we see some of the most egregious attacks, not only on the workers that are the backbone of our economy, but across the board against working families, against Black and Brown communities, against human beings trying to survive, it has been the unions leading the fight for all people.
So, while Labor Day is a time to reflect on the sacrifices of those who came before us, reflection alone isn’t enough. We must honor their work by continuing to stand together. As we celebrate our recent victories, we carry the momentum into the fight for all workers.
There is plenty of work to do, but there is power in knowing we never fight alone. On this Labor Day, and as many of us prepare to return to the classroom, let’s celebrate what we’ve accomplished and renew our commitment to what’s possible when we stand united.
Happy Labor Day!
Kenya Campbell, President
AFT Maryland, AFT, AFL-CIO
