"My reflection of what Labor Day means is simple. We, as a society, celebrate everything that had a say in shaping our nation. We have Christmas and Easter for our faith, we have the Fourth of July to remember our roots, Memorial Day and Veterans Day to celebrate the men and women who fought and died for our country in the battles for freedom. Labor Day is no different. We need to recognize the men and women who formed the backbone of our society. We need to recognize that on Labor Day some lucky people have the day to rest while others actually end up working harder. We labor in our lives to also support freedom. As the wars we waged for freedom are remembered, so must the lives of millions who supported the troops by working in their shoes during World War II- the Rosie the Riveters and men who were unable to serve. Also, to the men and women who died for our workers' right to form unions, to collectively bargain for the safety and well being of our labor force. These are the ways I remember why we have Labor Day."
-Scott Wells, former Candidate for the 98th District State House of Representatives.
"Labor Day means to me that we celebrate "LABOR"- The same Americans that helped build this Great Nation...helped us win WWI & WWII... The LABOR Movement and UNIONS that gave us Disposable Income, Safe Working Conditions, Environmental Responsibility, and of course WEEKENDS!!! These are the same Americans that continue to make us such a Great Nation through their Hard Work and continued support of our Nation! We all know that LABOR is under an all out assault this LABOR DAY by 'Economic terrorists' and 'Economic Traitors' (aka Right Wing Extremists). I come from "LABOR". I will always fight for "LABOR". We CANNOT and WILL NOT lose this fight! Our Nation's future depends on us standing up and winning the FIGHT FOR "LABOR"!!!"
-Mike Huckleberry, Democratic Candidate for the 4th District U.S. House of Representatives.
"Labor Day to me is a day to celebrate and honor those who earned the gains in workplace safety, job equality, fair wages, and other benefits in the workplace that we sometimes take for granted. The Labor movement pushed for civil rights and a strong middle class. People lost their jobs and sometimes their lives fighting for these rights. We should not take this for granted."
-Tim Novak, Saginaw County Commissioner for the 14th District.
"I believe that it is important that we celebrate Labor Day so that we never forget the contributions that Labor makes and has made to the quality of life for all Americans- especially middle-class Americans. We must never forget the sacrifices that workers made to create a better standard of living and the formation of a large middle-class in America."
-Jerry Ulrey, SADC Rules Chairman and Saginaw County Democratic Party Parliamentarian.
"I was raised in a Union household. My father was an organizer for the UAW Local 699 when the Steering Gear employees had only one plant (thus Plant l) on Hamilton Street. The word STRIKE was common with our family. Our society today has reaped the benefits of the many workers that originally went on STRIKE simply to have the right to be recognized as a union. NO RAISES, NO HEALTH CARE, NO HOLIDAYS- Just to be recognized as a bargaining unit. We must never forget that our middle class today is a result of workers striking for raises, seniority, health care, paid holidays, overtime... many benefits taken for granted. Fly your flag with respect to those many union workers who gave us what we have today."
-Kitty Packard, SCDP Secretary and SADC.
"No business which depends for existence on paying less than living wages to its workers has any right to continue in this country. By living wages I mean more than a bare subsistence level–I mean the wages of decent living."
-Franklin D. Roosevelt, U.S. President.
"If any man tells you he loves America, yet hates Labor, he is a liar. If any man tells you he trusts America, yet fears Labor, he is a fool." & "Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if Labor had not first existed. Labor is superior to capital, and deserves much the higher consideration."
- Abraham Lincoln, U.S. President.
"The American Labor Movement has consistently demonstrated its devotion to the public interest. It is, and has been, good for all America. Those who would destroy or further limit the rights of organized labor--those who cripple collective bargaining or prevent organization of the unorganized--do a disservice to the cause of democracy."
-John F. Kennedy, U.S. President.
"Ten thousand times has the labor movement stumbled and bruised itself. We have been enjoined by the courts, assaulted by thugs, charged by the militia, traduced by the press, frowned upon in public opinion, and deceived by politicians. But notwithstanding all this and all these, Labor is today the most vital and potential power this planet has ever known, and its historic mission is as certain of ultimate realization as is the setting of the sun."
-Eugene V. Debs, Labor leader and longtime Presidential candidate.
"Labor is not fighting for a larger slice of the national pie--labor is fighting for a larger pie."
-Walter Reuther, UAW Labor Leader.
"When a man or woman, young, or old, takes a place on the picket line for even a day or two, he will never be the same again."
-Cesar Chavez, United Farm Workers Leader.
"Labor Day differs in every essential from other holidays of the year in any country. All other holidays are in a more or less degree connected with conflict and battles of man's prowess over man, of strife and discord for greed and power, of glories achieved by one nation over another. Labor Day is devoted to no man, living or dead, to no sect, race or nation."
-Samuel Gompers, founder and president of the American Federation of Labor (AFL).
"Labor was the first price, the original purchase-money that was paid for all things. It was not by gold or by silver, but by labor, that all wealth of the world was originally purchased."
-Adam Smith, author of "The Wealth of Nations" and classic economist.
"Without labor nothing prospers."
-Sophocles, Ancient Greek playwrite and philosopher.
"The Labor Movement- the folks who brought you the weekend."
-An American bumper sticker.
"The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation’s strength, freedom, and leadership - the American worker."
- US Department of Labor official statement on the holiday.