Op-Ed: On Labor Day, Commit to Guarding Union Rights Under Threat

By: Charles Wowkanech is president of the New Jersey AFL-CIO, comprising about 1,000 local labor unions representing more than 1 million members.

September 7, 2026 | njspotlightnews.org

In 1887, New Jersey was one of the first states to pass a law creating a Labor Day holiday, a testament to the might of the labor movement and all that has been achieved for working people through solidarity. From the beginning, our state has been at the forefront of the national labor movement, fighting to improve the quality of life for the men and women who drive our economy each day.

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NJ SEED: Charlie Wowkanech, long time NJ SEED member and former officer, pays well deserved tribute to NJ labor union members while addressing the challenges facing organized labor today.