09/07/2026
Labor Day is more than the unofficial end of summer. It is a day rooted in the history of working people who stood together to demand fair wages, safer working conditions, reasonable hours, and dignity on the job.
The labor movement helped pave the way for the 8-hour workday, weekends, workplace safety protections, overtime pay, and many of the rights workers rely on today. These gains were not simply handed down—they were fought for by generations of working people who understood the power of standing together.
The Battle of Blair Mountain, fought in West Virginia in 1921, was one of the largest labor uprisings in American history. Thousands of coal miners, many of them seeking safer working conditions, fair wages, and the right to organize, stood together against coal companies and their allies. Though the miners were ultimately defeated, their courage became a powerful symbol of the struggle for workers’ rights and the enduring strength of union solidarity.
At its heart, Labor Day represents the dignity of work and the strength that comes when workers have a voice in their workplace. Unions give working people a seat at the table, a collective voice, and the ability to negotiate for better wages, benefits, safety, and working conditions.
Now, we still have a ways to go. According to the Economic Policy Institute, from 2015 to 2022, the number of minors employed in violation of child labor laws increased by 283% and the number of minors employed in violation of hazardous occupation orders increased by 94%. This is not okay. Kids earning money should be limited to lemonade stand and mowing lawns on the weekends. Not working in a factory or in a fast food window. Do better.
Anyway.
Today, we honor the workers who came before us, the workers who keep our communities moving, and those who continue to stand up for the next generation (see previous paragraph!)
When working people stand together, working people have power.
Happy Labor Day! 🇺🇸✊🏼✊🏻✊🏾✊🏿✊🏻🇺🇸
SIDE NOTE: today just so happens to be the boss's birthday! We're open today so come in and boost his sales as a lil birthday gift.
