I hope you’re enjoying the long weekend, folks – but before you get back to your Monday, I wanted to take a moment to say a few words about Labor Day and why it’s worth celebrating.

From the 40-hour work week to overtime pay and workplace safety, the labor movement fought hard to secure the better wages, benefits, and conditions that we enjoy today.

And although we’ve come a long way, there’s still so much work to be done. That starts with raising the minimum wage, bolstering unions, and harnessing our collective bargaining power.

The minimum wage here in North Carolina is just $7.25 an hour (the same as the federal minimum wage). Let’s be real, it’s not a livable wage. And with inflation, more families are struggling to make ends meet.

As the backbone of our economy, our workers deserve better. I am proud to be endorsed by the AFL-CIO, and to have earned the support of so many friends in the labor movement. In Congress, I’ll vote to raise the minimum wage and join my colleagues in legislation that supports labor unions.

Although we still have work to do, it’s the progress we’ve made that makes today worth celebrating.

In solidarity,

Jasmine