Today, Congressman Andy Levin (D-Bloomfield Township), member of the House Education and Labor Committee and longtime union organizer released the following statement commemorating Labor Day:

“The proper focus of Labor Day is not work or workers in general, but the transformative power of workers coming together to form unions. Let us celebrate the voice and power of workers in their workplaces, their organizations and society at large.

“Workers built the American middle class through their unions. Today, unionized workers make 10.2% higher wages than their nonunion peers. What is more, unions are a key tool in fighting discrimination. Joining a union increases wages by 17.3% for Black workers and 23.1% for Latino workers on average and helps narrow racial and gender economic disparities by setting clear standards for pay and advancement.

“At a moment when workers are voting to form unions in droves and unions are more popular with Americans than they have been in half a century, it is high time that the Senate pass the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which would empower workers in many ways and revitalize our society by advancing economic, racial and political equality.

“Amazon, Starbucks and other employers big and small who undermine their workers’ efforts to organize should realize that unions can improve workplaces and uplift the labor that makes their businesses run. Let today be a reminder that these companies have a legal responsibility to recognize the will of their employees when they choose to unionize and bargain collectively.”

Original source can be found here.