Labor Day celebrates the worth of work

Last updated: August 31, 2026

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — On September 7, the nation will once again observe Labor Day, a holiday created to celebrate those who work hard to make life better for all of us.

They are the builders and welders who make sure our homes and bridges are safe; the bakers and the canners feeding our families; the first responders we call for help; the educators who are teaching the leaders of tomorrow; the street repairers who keep our roads smooth and the bus drivers who get us to work and school; the line workers keeping American manufacturing alive; the drillers and other tradesmen and tradeswomen we depend on;the garbage collectors who keep our streets clean; the writers, actors and musicians that we love; and so many others.

The AFL-CIO’s 65 affiliated unions exist to protect working people and organize to ensure a hard day’s work is rewarded with fair pay, good benefits, and a voice on the jobs. For generations, the labor movement has fought to level the playing field so workers in Mississippi and around the country can build a good life for their families. 

And when unions fight for safer working conditions and fair pay, it doesn’t just help members. Good contracts set new standards for entire industries and lift up communities. 

Without the power of a union, most workers are forced to put up with low pay and disrespect on the job. But when working people join together, we don’t have to beg for scraps. Instead, we can bargain and negotiate for our fair share of the massive profits that our work creates. 

But whether you’ve had a chance to join a union at your worksite or not, some of the basic protections and freedoms we already have in place today are because union members fought for them.

Do you work an eight-hour, five-day work week? Do you get paid for federal holidays (like Labor Day)? Does your job offer health insurance for you and your family? Do you get paid vacation days each year? Are you working in a clean, healthy environment so you can come home safe after every shift? Do you get a lunch break? How about 15 minutes for breaks in the morning and afternoon? All of these rights have been won because working people like you joined together and demanded better.  

The Mississippi AFL-CIO is honoring all workers this Labor Day because all Mississippians deserve dignity at work.

We believe that every worker has a home in our labor movement. So when you’re ready to win the wages, respect, and healthcare you deserve, the Mississippi AFL-CIO and thousands of union brothers and sisters are here to have your back.

Visit our website at msaflcio.org for more information on Mississippi’s unions.