Labor Day Reflections: A Tribute to Workers Past and Present

This story first appeared in OB Rag, September 2025, and I’m happy to share it here with my readers.

Every Labor Day, I see cookouts and long weekends. This year, I found myself thinking about something else entirely: the people whose work built the world we enjoy, and one man who reminded me why that matters.

The Origins of Labor Day: From 1882 to a National Holiday

Labor Day began in 1882, when workers in New York City set aside a day to march together and demand fairer hours and safer working conditions. The idea spread, and by 1894, it became a national holiday. Most of us now see it as the unofficial end of summer, but at its core, it is a day to honor the people whose labor built the railroads, bridges, farms, and cities that shape this country.

Meeting George Jackson: A Story of Hard Work and Dedication

As I thought about that, I remembered a man I met on a Mediterranean cruise the previous year. His name is George Jackson. We met at the rock and roll music venue. My husband and I were listening to the band, and during the intermission, we struck up a conversation with George.

George is an easy-going, likable man. He is soft-spoken, but quick to join the conversation. I’ve thought about him many times since that cruise, about his life and how different it was from mine.

A Life Built on Labor: George’s Career and Union Experience

George was raised in Virginia by his mom, Juanita. He went to community college and studied engineering. He worked in construction for thirty years, earning a top hourly wage of $17. He proudly explained that he contributed $150 a month to his 401(k) and that his company matched it. He was a union member throughout his career, working for Clark Construction.

He married and had two children. They lived about 35 miles from D.C., in Purcellville, Loudoun County, Virginia. They bought a home for $30,000. Unfortunately, his work often required him to be away for extended periods, sometimes as long as six months at a time. Eventually, his wife grew tired of his absences and divorced him, taking the children. His relationship with them remained strained as they grew up, and his eyes darkened as he told me he rarely hears from them even today.

George loves to travel and was on this cruise with his mom and his niece, Karie. He feels fortunate to have a relationship with her, and his eyes lit up as he described past trips they had taken together and the fun they shared.

Often we would meet George at the bar, where he sat with a Coke, listening to music. Sometimes he was quiet and nodded casually. Other times, he was chatty, sharing more of his life.

Overcoming Challenges: Injury, Recovery, and Resilience

George worked hard at his trade. One day, a beam came loose on a job site, striking him and breaking his back. He endured two years of surgeries, nine months of inpatient physical therapy, and another three years of outpatient care.

Even after that tragedy, he feels fortunate. As a union member, workers’ compensation covered all his medical expenses and protected his job. When he retired, he was grandfathered into the pension plan and continues to receive a third of his ending salary each month.

He recently downsized and sold the first home he had bought for $430,000, moving into a smaller, more manageable place. He has no debt and lives comfortably on his pension, Social Security, and retirement savings from his 401(k). He is happy to take his mom along on trips, and cruising has allowed them to see the world at a relaxed pace. He was 70, and his mom was 89 at the time.

Reflecting on Labor Day: The Legacy of Workers’ Rights

Reflecting on Labor Day, I thought about the people who fought for workers’ rights, fair pay, fair hours, and safer conditions. Unions have played a key role in shaping a safer and fairer life for working people, and George’s story is a living example of that impact.

Although I’ve never worked in a unionized industry, my grandparents did. When my grandfather lost a finger in a manufacturing plant, workers’ compensation paid his medical bills, and the union ensured he kept his job. That was the closest I’ve personally come to unions.

Thinking about Labor Day, I also thought about the people back in 1882 who organized, marched, and fought for workers’ rights. Without their efforts, George’s story might feel sad. Instead, his eyes danced as he told me about his life, and he expressed gratitude for where he is today. That gratitude would likely not have been possible without the support of his union and the fair work practices we often take for granted.

Gratitude for All Workers: Past, Present, and Future

So to all workers, past and present, union or not, thank you for all that you do. Every working individual contributes in some way, and workers are what keep this country running.

This Labor Day, I am grateful for all the people whose work shapes our daily lives, from those who fought for safer conditions in the past to those who show up every day to keep things running. Your labor gives us more than a holiday; it gives us the chance to live, to work, and to rest with dignity. So here is to you, past and present, union or not. Just as I clinked George’s Coke glass with my wine glass on our last night together, I am virtually clinking yours. Cheers to all of you!

-J.S. Whaldo