Honoring Labor Day by Building Power with Nebraska Workers
Our communities have always depended on the strength, prosperity, and well-being of workers. However, workers did not always have the rights they have today to protect them in the workplace. Labor Day is a reminder of those who had the courage to organize for the dignity, safety, fair wages, and respect of our workers.
From Labor Day’s History to Today’s Movement
Rooted in the labor movements of the late nineteenth century, Labor Day began as a call to recognize the social and economic contributions of working people and value they create. The first Labor Day celebrations were organized by labor activists and workers who believed that the people building this country deserved to be seen, heard, and honored. Their efforts helped create a national holiday dedicated to recognizing workers’ contributions and to reminding us that progress has never happened by accident.
We carry that legacy forward in Nebraska by working alongside immigrant and underrepresented workers who are building safer workplaces, stronger neighborhoods, and a fairer democracy. Labor Day calls us to celebrate workers and recommit to the work still ahead.
Our team works to:
Provide workers’ rights education and trainings so workers understand their rights and responsibilities.
Support workers and employers in building safer, healthier workplaces.
Organize community members to advocate for stronger labor policies and greater protections.
Why Labor Day Matters for Nebraska Workers
Nebraska’s workforce is powered by workers in agriculture, food production, construction, manufacturing, healthcare, and countless other industries. Many immigrants and underrepresented peoples help keep our communities running, yet they are often the most likely to face unsafe conditions, wage theft, discrimination, language barriers, and limited access to decision-making spaces.
Recently, our executive director, Dr. Lina Traslaviña Stover, was interviewed for a short documentary about the immigrant labor force in meatpacking plants and the layers of social justice and workers’ rights it encompasses. The full documentary can be seen here:
Our Call This Labor Day
This Labor Day, we honor the workers who came before us by investing in the workers organizing today. Whether you are an employee or employer, there is a place for you in our movement. Together, we can continue the history of Labor Day by building power with immigrant and underrepresented communities – today and every day.
Your support makes this work possible. Join us at Cafecito with HWC on September 24 to connect, learn, and take action alongside neighbors who believe in a Nebraska that works for all of us.
Together, we can honor the legacy of Labor Day by continuing to build power, solidarity, and opportunity for every worker in our community.
