Labor Day and Public Health
By: LaDonna May-Barnes, MPH, and Hailey May, B.S. Psychology and Social Work
The labor movement in the United States established the labor protections that many of us take for granted – the 8-hour workday, overtime pay, the weekend, minimum wage, paid vacation, sick days, healthcare insurance, safety standards, and child labor laws just to name a few. These labor protections were virtually non-existent prior to the 20th century. It was during the late 1900’s and the early 20th century, when industrialization began to reshape the labor environment (and society along with it), that people began to recognize the relationship between working conditions and health. With the advent of industrialization, working conditions became increasingly dangerous and increasingly exploitative, especially among certain marginalized communities, i.e. immigrants, women, and black people. The increasing exploitation of the working class by the wealthy industrialists resulted in ever increasing economic disparities between these two classes of people in the rapidly expanding urban centers. The working-class communities in these urban centers lacked proper sanitation infrastructure, as well as access to clean water and basic healthcare. The burgeoning Labor Movement and the unions that sprang from this movement quickly began linking the fight for better compensation and more reasonable working hours to the fight for safer working conditions for workers and, eventually, healthier living conditions for them and their families.
Unions accomplished incredible systemic changes to the labor environment of America throughout the 20th century. There is also much more that needs to be accomplished, especially now, as prices for gas, groceries, and housing continue to rise and wages and fair compensation for time and skills remain stagnant or, in some cases, even plummet. Low-income workers are more likely to work multiple jobs due to a federal minimum wage which has remained unchanged since 2009 and, thus, is considerably out of step with inflation. Low wages along with inconsistent and unpredictable work schedules leave little time (or money) for leisure activities, and even carving out time for a necessary doctor’s appointment becomes incredibly difficult. Low-income workers still struggle to take care of their physical and mental well-being, since they often work jobs that still lack the workplace protections that would allow them to take time off without the threat of losing their job, whether it be for an emergency or just to recharge.
Given the amount of time each of us spends working, a healthy and safe workplace that provides fair compensation and paid time-off is essential to an employee’s physical and mental health. A healthy workforce is also essential to a healthy economy. Labor unions, while they may look different now than they did in the early 20th century, continue their mission to advocate for safe and healthy workplaces for their employees, as well as policies that facilitate healthy communities outside of the workplace.
ADDITIONAL READING:
Comments