Labor Day arrives as public backing for unions reaches new heights. Between 2014 and 2015, union approval climbed five percentage points, according to an August Gallup poll. Two-thirds of Americans aged 18-34 now support unions, and a majority of the overall population approves of them. Most Americans want to see union strength either maintained or expanded.
Yet troubling economic patterns persist. Since 1978, CEO compensation has outpaced typical worker earnings by a factor of 90. As executives accumulate wealth, countless workers fall further behind.
By Warren Tolman, president, AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO President Steven A. Tolman remarked:
This Labor Day season brings recognition that working people understand labor’s vital contribution to American prosperity. Income inequality has reached crisis proportions, and unions represent a crucial tool for evening the scales. The Commonwealth and the nation both benefit when unions thrive, as do working families.
A Massachusetts voice for all workers—both those already organized and those still seeking representation—is what we are constructing. Our commitment includes battling privatization efforts, combating income inequality, and guaranteeing fair compensation for honest work.
The situation with executive compensation demands attention. McDonald’s CEO earns over $7 million annually while the average McDonald’s worker, despite full-time employment, cannot afford basic food and shelter. This disparity signals fundamental dysfunction. Millions of hardworking Americans grow increasingly frustrated when innovation and sacrifice fail to translate into financial stability for their families.
Wage theft represents the Massachusetts AFL-CIO’s priority for the coming year. This criminal practice pervades numerous industries, with billions extracted from workers annually through employer fraud. Wage theft takes many forms: subminimum pay, off-the-clock work requirements, withheld overtime, worker misclassification, tip confiscation, and outright payment refusal. Beyond harming workers, wage theft damages ethical businesses and taxpayers. Effective legislation must address this growing crisis.
Throughout the Commonwealth, working people have secured significant victories recently, energizing the movement. Minimum wage increases, the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, and earned sick time represent worker wins.
Nationwide, voters have consistently supported union values whenever given the opportunity—on wages, equal pay, education, and paid leave. This Labor Day honors working families and reflects our readiness to organize collectively, reshape systems, and establish enduring equity. Every family deserves the chance to achieve the American Dream through dignified work.