The True Meaning of Labor Day

Late summer celebrations of working men and women have been an American tradition since the 19th century when many states began to recognize a form of Labor Day.  The national holiday, marking the first Monday in September as Labor Day, began in 1894.

We all have our own traditions for this end-of summer weekend, and I hope that many of you enjoyed cook-outs and beach days, parades, and community events. This year, let’s also take the time to consider the true spirit of the holiday and carry it forward.

We know that too many families are working harder and longer than ever.  Too many parents struggle to afford day care for their children.  The high costs of college – so vital to get ahead in our innovation economy – continue to rise, and student debt is going sky-high.  And even while our economy continues to strengthen, wages are stagnant, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting that real average hourly earnings were essentially flat over the past year.

The minimum wage has certainly not kept pace with rising costs.  For example, in 1985 I made $2.01 an hour for tipped minimum wage working as a waitress in Boston. Today, I would make $2.63.  If the Commonwealth’s minimum wage had kept pace with inflation since it was last raised to $8/hour, it would already be $11/hour. 

64% of employees earning the minimum wage are women, and far too often they and many others confront another hurdle: pay inequity. Women still earn less than men in the United States and in Massachusetts.  This trend persists despite major gains in educational attainment and labor force participation in recent decades. Our laws prohibit employers from paying male and female employees different wages for comparable work, yet they do not define comparable work, and our job classification system is outdated.   I have cosponsored legislation to establish a legal definition for job comparability based on skill, effort, responsibility and working conditions. 

While we work to achieve pay equity, we must ensure that the minimum wage provides a livable wage for all. Over 500,000 low-wage earners in Massachusetts would stand to benefit from an increase in the minimum wage.  Most are 20 years or older, and most have at least a high school degree.  Increasing the minimum wage will mean millions of dollars in earnings each year that could be spent at local businesses, contributing to regional economic development and job growth. 

A livable wage also must be accompanied by earned benefits.  Almost 1 million Massachusetts workers do not have access to paid sick days, leaving them prone to emergency room visits, sacrificing care-giving to elderly or sick family members, and exposing the public to greater health risks.  I have proudly cosponsored An Act establishing earned paid sick time to establish provisions for all employees to earn up to 7 paid sick days per year, at the rate of 1 hour for every 30 hours worked. 

Allowing employees to earn paid sick days would save the Commonwealth millions in medical costs.  More than that, it is the right thing to do: we should not be forcing employees to come to work sick or make parents choose between the health of a family member and a steady job.

Our economic well-being depends on the success of healthy and productive employees.  Unfortunately, instances of workplace abuse and harassment are far too common, with both physical and psychological health consequences for employees.  Workplace harassment can have serious costs for employers like reduced employee productivity, higher turnover and absenteeism rates, and increases in compensation claims.

Everyone deserves a safe and healthy workplace, and I am leading efforts to address this challenge through legislation I have sponsored to provide legal relief for employees who have been deliberately subjected to abusive work environments. 

Together our efforts to raise the minimum wage, establish earned sick time, achieve pay equity and ensure a safe workplace for all will not only benefit our families and our communities, but our economy as well.  

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