We the People

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization.

By Sarah Sweeney
September 8, 2025

Labor Day marks the end of summer and celebrates the American worker by recognizing their achievements that contribute to the social and economic prosperity of our communities. Brought about through labor party activism, this day became a federally recognized holiday in 1894. The working conditions for the average American worker were indeed quite dismal, including twelve hour work days, unsafe working conditions, disproportionate wages, no minimum age requirements and no social protections. Labor unions had started to come about and insisted on improved conditions and protections for workers in all markets, often encouraging strikes and rallies to protest. Understanding the history of this day is important so that we can better know how to continue protecting the rights of workers moving forward. As public administrators especially, it is our duty to ensure equal and equitable protections for laborers in all levels of our social structure. So as we celebrate this Labor Day and the worker protections we currently have in place, I am moved to consider how far we must go and the steps we must take to encourage activism and rally behind workers in all trades and industries before it’s too late and our economy is beyond repair.

Sweeping changes to the labor movement are happening at an alarming rate. In addition to the mass layoffs we’ve seen by government agencies, there have also been executive orders signed and put in motion that have removed union protections for thousands of workers with a trickle down effect to the general public. Through tariffs, removal of worker safety regulations and legal rights to contracts as well as stripping agencies of their essential workforce, this mass deconstruction of the labor movement is leaving a substantial gap in worker protections. Have we re-entered an industrial revolutionist period within our country’s evolution? While many of the changes have focused largely on federal or public agencies, at some point this may also affect private sector business and I wonder if that is what it will take to push action. Public administrators’ purview is the public sector and we must take action to protect what remains of worker rights and attempt to rebuild the systems that have been dismantled. If or when these changes hit the private sector we may find more support to bolster the public agenda. It is unclear to me if the consequences of recent changes on the federal level have yet been realized, or if they ever will be. An example of this trickle down can be seen with staffing reduction in food safety and inspection, where staff are not comfortable in sharing concerning trends out of fear of retaliation and job loss, which could very well lead to unsafe consumer products being sold and leading to illness or even death. Another example coming from the Department of Veterans Affairs, with their reduction in staffing can lead to patients experiencing appointment delays, caregiver issues and lack of provider availability.

As we move through a period of adjustment we are responsible as public leaders to ensure our constituents have the skills and abilities to meet their basic needs and this will include labor laws and protections that match the true need. As local leaders it is our responsibility to organize and give voice to those we serve and model the behaviors we wish to see. Go out on a limb and push back against injustice to do what’s right for those we serve. If we explore the history of labor laws and worker rights we can see that basic human rights are woven tightly into some of them, such as equitable pay, safer working conditions and schedules that ensure personal wellbeing and safety. So if that means encouraging rallies or protests that push democratic agendas in line with social responsibility then it is our duty to support them. Upholding public safety is paramount to our responsibility as public administrators and it is through this duty that we can be guided to make proper choices for the safety and wellbeing of our communities. As summer winds down and kids head back to school, parents return to the daily grind and the average American heads in to the office each morning, let us be reminded of the importance of workplace securities, union support and the basic rights of feeling safe and supported Monday through Sunday no matter the shift.

---

Author: Sarah Sweeney is a professional social worker and public administrator in Washington State. She may be contacted at [email protected].

(No Ratings Yet)
Loading...