This Labor Day, working people are celebrating union solidarity safely as we come together to say “Workers First. Vote Union.”
As we continue to help working people through the interwoven crises of the coronavirus pandemic, its economic fallout, and long-standing structural racism, many local labor councils are sponsoring food drives, important virtual conversations, and other events as we build strength for workers in 2020 and beyond.
Click here to find a Labor Day 2020 event near you.
The National AFL-CIO will be hosting a series of online virtual events starting September 2 and continuing until Labor Day on September 7. View the schedule at LaborDayLive.org
Labor Day 2020 in Wisconsin
Green Bay: The Greater Green Bay Labor Council is hosting a food drive on September 7 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Green Bay Labor Temple, 1570 Elizabeth Street. Drop off non-perishable food items at the Labor Temple or make a cash donation to buy gift cards.
Marathon County: The Marathon County Central Labor Council has purchased a radio ad to honor and thank workers to celebrate Labor Day. Keep an ear out to hear the radio spot!
Milwaukee: The Milwaukee Area Labor Council will host a virtual Labor Day event on September 7 at 9:00 a.m. to commemorate the sacrifices and contributions of organized labor. Follow the Milwaukee Area Labor Council Facebook page for videos, pictures, and history at facebook.com/mkelabor.
Madison: Help students who are homeless in the MMSD Transition Education Program (TEP) by donating personal safety/hygiene items like hand sanitizers (wipes and pumps) and face masks in youth and adult sizes or basic school supplies like glue sticks, flash cards, non-permanent/washable markers, colored pencils, pocket folders and composition books. Contact AFL-CIO Community Services Liaison Ann McNeary for delivery/drop off/pick up of donations by email at labor@uwdc.org or 608-246-4355. In honor of Labor Day, contribute to the National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive by going to nalc.org/food selecting your state and choosing a food bank in your area.
Western Wisconsin: The Western Wisconsin AFL-CIO will go live on Facebook for a short Labor Day program on September 7 at 10:00 am.
Greater West Central Area Labor Council: On Labor Day, the Greater West Central Area Labor Council will continue to support the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 728 Stamp Out Hunger 28th annual food drive. Corey Grotte, NALC Branch 728 president, accepted a check from Phil Swanhorst, GWCALC president, to help local communities in this years’ virtual donation drive. Donations are accepted at nalc.org/food.
Fox Valley: This past Saturday, the Fox Valley Area Labor Council supported the St. Joseph Food Program with a food drive. Non-perishable food items were collected and will be delivered to the St. Joseph food bank to celebrate Labor Day.
Take Action:
In addition to the events above, you can take action for workers this Labor Day with the action list below:
➔PASS THE HEROES ACT: We continue to call for the Senate to act on the HEROES Act, the coronavirus relief bill passed by the House last May. Call Senator Ron Johnson at 866-832-1560 and ask him if he supports the HEROES Act. The HEROES ACT will help fund our post office, extend enhanced unemployment insurance for our those out of work, enact an OSHA emergency standard for infectious disease, support vital public services, release funds to get workers PPE and more. It’s been over 105 days since the House passed the HEROES Act. It’s time for the Senate to act.
➔SIGN UP TO VIRTUAL PHONE BANK: Sign up to get involved with our Labor 2020 union member outreach program. Join our virtual phone banks at wisaflcio.org/mobilize to help register new union voters, help voters request and return absentee ballots, learn about early voting options, and educate on our endorsed candidates.
➔JOIN THE UNION MASK BRIGADE: Working people continue to step up and pitch in to get fellow workers virus protection. Volunteer sewers are busy making homemade masks while other brigade members are donating supplies, offering to deliver masks, sharing patterns with friends and family and more. Join today at unionmaskbrigade.org
➔REGISTER TO VOTE, REQUEST ABSENTEE BALLOT: Labor Day comes just 57 days away from what could be the most historically important election for working people. By electing politicians who will fight for America’s working class and uplift the labor movement, we can keep making progress in the fight for a fair economy and a just society. This November, it’s crucial we get to the ballot box to elect Joe Biden as the next president of the United States. Register to vote and/or request your absentee ballot at myvote.wi.gov.
On Labor Day, we honor and recognize America’s working people and come together to say “Workers First, Vote Union.” In the face of this unprecedented pandemic, it’s important now more than ever to continue to join together as one united labor movement for a workers first recovery with safe workplaces and social, economic, and racial justice for all.