Today, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.), issued the following statement for Labor Day, which will be celebrated on Monday, September 3, 2012:
“Since 1894, Labor Day has been a federal holiday to honor the American worker. As we enjoy our Labor Day holiday weekend with cookouts, college football games and family trips, let us also pay tribute to the labor movement in America that helped build a strong middle class, made us the most productive and prosperous country in the world, and enabled millions of families to achieve the American dream.
“Let’s remember that organized labor contributed to the end of child labor, the establishment of a minimum wage, weekends off, the 40-hour work week with paid overtime, paid sick and vacation leave, paid federal holidays, pensions and 401(k) plans, unemployment insurance, employer-based health insurance coverage, workplace safety standards, worker’s comp, the Civil Rights Acts, Title VII (which made illegal workplace discrimination based on race, religion, gender and sexual orientation), the Family and Medical Leave Act, and much more.
“I will give thanks this weekend for all of these advancements and, as I have done throughout my career, I will continue to fight for hardworking Floridians and their families.
“Have a happy and safe Labor Day!”
###
U.S. Rep. Frederica S. Wilson is a first-term Congresswoman from Florida representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school.
