As we celebrate Labor Day with family and friends, 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. This is just one example of New York’s rich, shared history with the Labor Movement, building the Empire State's past, present and future.
Protecting the rights and safety of workers is a priority both for me and for my administration—and in the last few months alone we’ve taken big steps toward that end. We worked to raise the minimum wage for fast food workers. We enacted policies and signed legislation to protect nail salon workers. And we launched a multi-agency task force to ensure that all workers in industries across the state have the full protection of the law when it comes to wages, hours and safety.
We’ve done a lot, and there’s a lot of work left to do. But for now relish the last days of summer, and enjoy the company of loved ones. 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