Labor Day isn’t just a great time to buy a new household appliance because of killer deals, it’s also an opportunity to reflect and honor those workers who fought for the rights that we see as bog standard today. Fair wages, safe workplaces, and even the right to form a labor union are all treated as normal expectations in 2026, but they all came about because workers organized, spoke up, and supported one another.
The mission of those workers who rejected complacency and took action is carried on and advanced every day by our own library staff. At a time when libraries across the country are faced with chronic understaffing, wages that don’t keep up with inflation, and attacks on the very idea of libraries themselves, our membership remains committed to fighting for the safety, respect, and staffing levels that our communities deserve.
The labor movement isn’t just something from the late 19th Century. It’s something that we are all a part of. Happy Labor Day to everyone who makes libraries possible through both their skilled labor and their commitment to solidarity!
Hope to see you at the next scheduled Listening Session next Monday, September 14, 2026 at 7:15 PM. It’s open to all 1857 members. The Zoom link was sent to your personal email from C2everett with the subject “Local 1857 Missive for August 28, 2026.” If you cannot find the link please contact eboard@kclsvoice.org.
