Politics & Government
Labor Day In Union County: Unions, Strikes And Worker Pride
Labor Day weekend is not just a time for relaxation and grilling burgers. Take a look back at labor rights movements in Union County below:
UNION COUNTY, NJ — While Labor Day weekend is a time for relaxing, grilling burgers and spending time with friends and family, advocates say it's important to remember what brought you the holiday in the first place: the U.S. workers' movement.
Observed the first Monday in September, Labor Day is an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers. The holiday is rooted in the late 19th century, when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the contributions that workers have made to America’s “strength, prosperity and well-being,” the U.S. Department of Labor says.
In New Jersey, membership in labor unions grew slightly from 2020 to 2021 according to federal statistics. Union members accounted for 16.2 percent of wage and salary workers in the Garden State last year, up from 16.1 percent in 2020.
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Read More: NJ Union Membership Rate Grew Amid Pandemic – But With Fewer Jobs
Employment rose in all 15 of the largest counties in New Jersey from December 2020 to December 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recently reported. That includes Union County, where employment numbers were up 5.9 percent.
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Union County: Local Fights For Workplace Justice
Labor unions and workers' protests have been happening all over Union County in the past year. Check out some of our recent labor and workplace stories below:
The workers protested unfair labor practices and the loss of their health insurance, retirement benefits and holidays at Complete Care at Clark in July.
Nursing Home Workers To Protest Benefit Cuts At Union Co. Rehab Center
Caregivers picketing AristaCare at Delaire in Linden on Aug. 24, protesting cuts to their health insurance among other issues.
Summit Starbucks Workers Vote 7-3 In Favor Of Unionizing
The Starbucks on Beachwood Road is the second unionized location for the coffee chain in all of New Jersey.
24 Union Co. Car Wash Workers Win $1M Lawsuit Against Wage Theft
Workers will receive settlement checks of up to $50K after a lawsuit battle against Caribbean Car Wash for underpaying its employees.
This story features reporting from Patch editor Eric Kiefer.
Have a news tip? Email remy.samuels@patch.com.
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