Labor Day Message: “Unions are the Rising Tide that Lifts All Boats”

A diverse group of over 200 union members crowded into the Operating Engineers Local 478 hall in Hamden for the annual Connecticut AFL-CIO labor breakfast, enthusiastic for new organizing underway and ready to get out the vote for pro-worker champions in November.

Democratic candidates for state-wide, legislative and federal offices got standing ovations for supporting workers' right to organize, the right to vote, and abortion rights.

“Don't let people get away without being held accountable,” said Rep Jahana Hayes, a target for defeat by the national Republican party in the 5^th Congressional District. Referring to her voting record to not leave anyone behind, she urged, “Check out the receipts. I am proud of mine.”

Remarks by Ed Hawthorne, Connecticut AFL-CIO president, are excerpted below:

“This is an exciting time for the labor movement. We are in the midst of an historical upswing in organizing. Over 43,000 workers have organized themselves into unions in just the first half of this year alone.

“Working people are coming together to fight for better wages, safer workplaces, and dignity and respect on the job. Just take a look at the workers at the rest stops on I-95, baristas at Starbucks in Vernon and West Hartford, warehouse workers at Amazon, and thousands of others.

This surge in union organizing should inspire us all.

“Connecticut Voices for Children's report on the “State of Working Connecticut” has significant findings about unions.

“One was that public sector jobs are essential for reducing Connecticut’s high level of wage inequality. One of the reasons for that isn’t just because they’re public sector jobs, but because the public sector has high union density compared to the private sector. About 69% of public sector workers are unionized compared to 9% of private sector workers.

“This led to the second finding that union membership is essential for reducing Connecticut’s high level of wage inequality. So when they looked at the construction industry which has the highest union density in the private sector, they found the lowest level of wage inequality.

“Bottom line: When union density is high, wage inequality is low. It even benefits non-union workers. Union membership is really the rising tide that will lift all boats.”