Labor Day Message: Want Power? Join a Union!

"It's time to organize!" exclaimed Sal Luciano, president of the Connecticut AFL-CIO to several hundred union members at the sixth annual Labor Day Breakfast at Operating Engineers Local 478 in Hamden. Noting the 125th anniversary of Labor Day, Luciano emphasized the signs around the room, "Want Power? Join a Union." He paid tribute to the hundreds of thousands of workers who sacrificed and organized for strong wages, safer working conditions, healthcare and retirement benefits, won through collective bargaining.

Juan Hernandez, leader of SEIU 32 BJ, described a rally with highway service plaza workers in Darien the day before. After an attempt to block the rally was denied by a Superior Court judge, union supporters demanded union representation for Subway, Dunkin’ Donuts and McDonald’s workers at Connecticut service plazas so they can get the wages and benefits they are due.

"Alone your employer can and has treated you as if you’re invisible. That time, sisters and brothers, is past. Now is the time to be seen, now is the time to be heard. Now is the time to organize." Luciano. told the fast food workers.

Sen. Julie Kushner and Rep. Robyn Porter, co-chairs of the state legislature's Labor Committee, were recognized for leading the successful fight that won an increase in the minimum wage to $15 an hour and paid family leave in this session.

Three union members, running for their town councils after participating in the Pathways to Power program of the Connecticut AFL-CIO, told their stories, including Kim Glassman, director of Foundation for Fair Contracting, of East Haven; Katlyn Shake a nurse, of Stratford, and Bill Garrity of Plainville, president of University Health Professionals Local 3837.

"I am honored and humbled to receive the endorsement of Western CT Area Labor Federation AFL-CIO," said Shake. "We are always stronger when we come together and organize. Unions built the middle class and Stratford is home to thousands of CT union workers!"

Attorney General William Tong denounced the anti-worker and anti-immigrant policies of the White House and vowed to continue resisting with court challenges, along with Attorneys General of other states.

Information was distributed in support of the Connecticut Climate Strike on September 20 at noon on the Capitol steps in Hartford demanding action to address the climate crisis.