OPINION: Labor Day is about treating workers fairly

As we celebrate Labor Day, we should remember the lessons of history and how they might inform our troubles in Alaska today. For example, the Bread and Roses Strike was held in 1912 in Lawrence, Massachusetts, by textile workers — largely immigrants and women. Drawing on a line from a popular poem, strike leader Rose Schneiderman explained, “What the woman who labors wants is the right to live, not simply exist — the right to life as the rich woman has the right to life, and the sun and music and art … The worker must have bread, but she must have roses, too.”

This “right to live” is more than simply existing, it is the human right to thrive and flourish. The strikers in Lawrence in 1912 understood this right, which is expressed throughout history in our political movements, our ancient philosophies, our world religions and our basic human instincts: There is more to life than toil, more than the mere acquisition of food and shelter. A person can thrive if their life includes not only work and sleep, but also time to enjoy the fruits of their labors, leisure time, time spent with family and faith communities, and time for education and building a better future.

This life of thriving requires protection from the devouring mouth of capitalism, lest already-wealthy individuals and corporations exploit workers, leaving them with insufficient time and salary to thrive. The Bible supports this frequently: In Deuteronomy 24, God commands that “You shall not oppress a hired worker who is poor and needy,” and in Malachi 3 adds “I will be a swift witness against … those who oppress the hired worker in his wages.” In the New Testament, this thread continues, as it does in James Chapter 5: “Now listen, you rich people … You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you.”

From ancient texts to today’s news, the right to “bread and roses” permeates our struggles. Today in Alaska, we are short on workers to provide child care, homelessness services, mental health care, positions at the Anchorage Health Department and Controller Division, the state Division of Public Assistance, and many more. Alaska has seen people leaving the state at a steady rate since 2010, and it’s not hard to see why: There is a prevalent political “every man for himself” ideology that forbids and demonizes social programs and safety nets. It denies the taxes required to create a state and a city that function properly. We get what we pay for, and we pay just barely enough to keep the lights on. We pay for stale, meager bread and no roses. Given that stingy approach to building a community, it’s easy to see why more people move out than in. It’s hard to convince someone to move to a place in which work and sleep are all you can expect.

But there is hope. Just as surely as our own choices got us here, our own choices can pull us up, particularly when we stand together. A recent poll found that 70% of Americans, including a majority in both parties, approve of the protections provided by labor unions. In a time of great divisiveness, it is remarkable to find such a large majority agreeing about anything. And this agreement is even stronger in younger generations, indicating a hopeful future for humane conditions and fair compensation.

By following the best principles celebrated on Labor Day — guaranteeing fair conditions, wages, and benefits for all of our workers — we can lift all Alaskans toward a thriving life, and together, all of us can enjoy our “right to life, and the sun and music and art.”

Rev. Matt Schultz, an Anchorage pastor, is on the steering committee for Christians for Equality.

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