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COMMUNITY OP-ED SEPTEMBER 08, 2023 | The Indian Eye 14

LABOR DAY:

A celebration of working people and

the unions that support them

Labor Day celebrates those landmark achievements

and the people who continue to fight for workers and their rights

ERIC ADAMS New York City is America’s largest union town, and union solidarity is what makes so many American Dreams possible (File photo)

ERIC ADAMS roof over our heads. the private-sector jobs lost during city’s prosperity, and as more asy-
Now that I am in City Hall, our the pandemic. And we are focused lum seekers continue to arrive, we
ere in New York City, the administration is working hard to on creating more jobs than ever be- want to make sure they are getting
three-day Labor Day week- create jobs, support labor unions, fore — jobs you can build your life an opportunity to support them-
Hend marks the beginning of and ensure that working people get around, and you can build our city selves and integrate into our soci-
a new year in many ways. Many of the wages, rights, and benefits they and our economy around. ety. That is why we continue to call
us are enjoying the last days of sum- deserve. We have actively worked We’re bringing jobs directly to for work authorization for asylum
mer, traveling or spending time with to promote a Working People’s the people by creating the Office seekers, who have so much to con-
friends and family, and our children Agenda that calls for investments in of Community Hiring. Community tribute to our economy, and who
are getting ready to return to school. housing, job training, and education hiring will use the city’s immense can help fill the jobs New Yorkers
This chance to relax and recharge — as well as support for those who purchasing power to create a more do not want.
is possible thanks to the American serve our city every day. equitable economy by ensuring We have thousands of unfilled
labor movement, whose members I am proud our administration that contractors who benefit from jobs right here in New York City,
fought for so many workplace bene- has actively worked to support our the city’s spending to hire from of- including openings in manufactur-
fits that we now take for granted — municipal unions, reaching land- ten-overlooked communities. Once ing, food service, home care, and
from basic safety protections to the mark contract agreements with fully implemented, community transportation. And, just as so
40-hour workweek. Labor Day cele- the Uniformed Officers Coalition, hiring has the potential to create many previous immigrants did, we
brates those landmark achievements a group that includes the NYPD, 186,000 jobs for economically disad- must help new arrivals get a job
and the people who continue to fight FDNY, DSNY, and the Department vantaged workers and residents over and do their part of pursuing the
for workers and their rights. of Corrections. We also reached new the next five years. American Dream.
As New York City’s blue-col- and improved labor contracts with We have also launched a num- New York City is America’s
lar mayor, I have stood shoulder to the United Federation of Teachers, ber of new jobs training programs, largest union town, and union soli-
shoulder with working people all my PBA, and DC 37, New York City’s including New York City PINCC, darity is what makes so many Amer-
life. As a former union member and largest public sector union. All of or Pathways to Industrial and Con- ican Dreams possible. As a proud
the son of a union member, I’ve ex- these labor agreements support the struction Careers. This program supporter of workers from all walks
perienced firsthand the transforma- thousands of New York City work- would train and place over 2,000 of life, I’ll continue to fight for the
tive power of labor organizing. Being ers who support us — and keep us New Yorkers into high-wage, ca- same things the unions do: fairer
part of a union was what allowed my the greatest city in the world. reer-track jobs in the construction, wages, better benefits, and a higher
mother — a single mom raising her Our economy continues to transportation, and utility sectors quality of life. Happy Labor Day!
six children in a modest home — to show record growth and recovery. over the next three years. Eric Adams is
provide for our family and keep a In fact, we have recovered 99% of Workers are the bedrock of our the Mayor of New York City, NY

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