Celebrate Labor Day by remembering the reason for the holiday -- our great labor force

As we celebrate this Labor Day with family and friends, we honor the extraordinary contributions of the labor movement and its dedicated women and men who ensure that the principles of fairness, justice and shared prosperity are paramount and achievable for all.

New York has always been a place powered by its workers, and here in our borough we recognize that strong workers' rights are good for families and therefore good for Queens.

This Labor Day I hope you’ll join me in remembering the hardworking men and women of American Labor for whom this day was founded. 

The Central Labor Union of New York held the nation’s first Labor Day Parade on September 5, 1882, when some 10,000 workers marched from City Hall to Union Square in NYC. They stood together in solidarity, taking time off from work to honor and celebrate the dignity of Labor. Now 140 years later, New York continues its solid history with the Labor Movement, building upon the Empire State's past for a brighter future. 

As a member of the Senate Civil Service and Pensions Committee, protecting the rights and safety of workers is a top priority — and in the state we’ve taken big steps toward that end. We worked to raise the minimum wage. We enacted policies and signed legislation to protect and improve working conditions, as well as implemented a successful paid family leave program.  

We’ve done a lot, and there’s a lot of work left to do. To New York’s proud workers, thank you. Together we’ve built the greatest state in the nation, and together we will forge a future that provides fairness and opportunity for all.