Let’s be honest: Labor Day has lost its way.

What started as a hard-fought tribute to America’s union members has been whitewashed into a weekend of blowout sales, cookouts, and corporate lip service. But behind the scenes—and often right out in the open—those same corporations and politicians are doing everything they can to crush the labor movement Labor Day was meant to honor.

We’re done with the hypocrisy. This year, the labor movement is taking Labor Day back.

Because let’s not forget: this day belongs to us. It was a Machinist—Matthew Maguire of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers—who first proposed Labor Day back in 1882. From the start, it was about recognizing the contributions of working people and the power of organized labor. The IAM has never forgotten that legacy, continuing to lead the way with rallies, parades, and actions that speak louder than any politician’s tweet.
Meanwhile, union-busting is running rampant across America:

Donald Trump and his Project 2025 crowd are openly scheming to dismantle the NLRB and wipe out decades of worker protections. It’s deregulation and privatization on steroids—and working people are the target.

Tesla is firing workers for organizing, all while pushing unsafe conditions and silencing whistleblowers.

Amazon is spending millions on union-busting consultants and retaliating against warehouse workers who dare speak up.

Whole Foods (Amazon) is using the power of deep pockets and a crippled NLRB to beat back a union victory in Philadelphia.

Starbucks has become the poster child for corporate hypocrisy—claiming to support its workers while refusing to bargain with over 400 unionized stores.

Trader Joe’s, REI, Google, Apple—they’re all using different flavors of the same union-busting playbook, hoping their brand image will mask the exploitation happening behind the curtain.

But workers aren’t backing down.

They’re organizing. They’re striking. They’re winning elections and demanding contracts.

They’re building the kind of solidarity that scares the hell out of CEOs.

Labor Day isn’t just a break—it’s a reminder.

A reminder of the fights we’ve won. The power we still hold.

And the work we’ve got left to do.

So no, we’re not settling for “15% off” sales and hollow thank-yous.

We’re reclaiming this day. For the machinists. For the baristas. For the auto workers. For every worker who refuses to be silenced, sidelined, or sold out.

Labor Day belongs to the labor movement.

And this year, we’re taking it back.