As our students return and the semester begins, the unofficial end of summer comes with Labor Day weekend.
Celebrating the American labor movement and workers who fought to win rights that we take for granted is sometimes overlooked. It is an opportune time to remember that an 8-hour workday (7.5 hours for many of our members), safe conditions, fair pay, and a weekend was not a gift from employers but required sustained collective power from workers in all trades to win.
We are in a moment where our collective power needs to be flexed again as we continue to work without a contract.
URA members’ work makes Rutgers work. Without us, Rutgers’ students, faculty and our communities would not function. It is our efforts that make everything seem seamless, from dining and IPO, in every academic department, from admissions, financial aid, advisors, and every unrecognized job that we perform, we are integral and vital to this university.
So next weekend, I celebrate you. Thank you for everything you do, all your labor through the year, all your going the extra mile to make it seem easy, and all that you give to make our community strong.
