The US holiday known as Labor Day – hence the American English spelling – was begun in 1882 in New York City to recognise the contributions of American workers. That purpose still holds true today, but this year, the US bishops are also using the holiday to highlight the hardships many workers face in the modern economy.
“Dignified work reflects that our humanity gives us an active role to play in cultivating a world around us,” said Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso and Archbishop Borys Gudziak of the Archeparchy of Philadelphia. “Through work, we exercise dominion over how we provide the material needs for ourselves and our families. God desires for us to do more than simply survive but to thrive.
“Yet, in today’s economy, too many people and families are living in poverty due to jobs with low pay that often provide little or no benefits, erratic work schedules, and offer insufficient protections,” Seitz and Gudziak said. “At the same time, union representation has diminished, especially in the private sector, leaving workers with less protection and a weakened bargaining position.
“We know it does not have to be this way,” the prelates added.
Seitz and Gudziak, chairmen of the US Bishops’ Conference Committees on Migration and on Domestic Justice and Human Development, respectively, issued the statement on 28 August in advance of Labor Day on this 2 September. A national holiday since 1894, Labor Day is celebrated annually on the first Monday in September.
Seitz and Gudziak called on the US this Labor Day to recommit to building a society that honours human dignity, noting that the Catholic faith advocates for protections that allow labourers to thrive. Specifically, they highlight the plight of immigrant and child labourers.
Seitz and Gudziak note that immigrant workers – who many communities and sectors turn to amid labour shortages – have a positive impact on the economy, but are still mistreated at a higher rate than their native-born counterparts. They cite human trafficking as a major issue that is still prevalent, as well as general hostility and discrimination.
A Congressional report published last September estimated that there are about 8.8 million illegal immigrants in the US labour force. The primary jobs they hold include maids and housekeepers, cooks, construction workers, farmers, and landscapers, according to the report.
“The Church supports both workers and immigrants around the country, especially those who often work in agricultural and other industries without protections because of their immigration status,” Seitz and Gudziak said. “These workers contribute to the local economy, pay taxes, and own homes. Yet, they are often the victims of wage theft and legitimately fear reprisal if they speak up about missing wages or unjust practices.”
Seitz and Gudziak blamed the lack of changes to the nation’s immigration system for some of the problems that exist, arguing that the current system “does not adequately address the needs of American families, employers, communities, or immigrants".
“These shortcomings, when coupled with the issue of labour shortages, have increased opportunities for the exploitation of immigrants and led some to resort to using children as a supplemental source of labour,” Seitz and Gudziak said. “We have witnessed concerning affronts to the dignity of children, native-born and immigrant alike, whose innocence has been traded for cheap – and often dangerous – labour.”
The latest government statistics confirm that child labour and child labour violations have increased in recent years. US Department of Labour data from Fiscal Year 2023 – 1 October 2022 to 30 September 2023 – show that there were 955 cases of child labour violations, 5,792 minors employed in violation, and $8,039,728 issued in child labour civil money penalties.
Those figures are all the highest over the last decade – as far back as the data is shown. Comparatively, in Fiscal Year 2022, the data shows that there were 835 cases with child labour violations, 3,876 minors employed in violation, and $4,386,205 issued in child labour civil money penalties.
“With the number of child labour law violations having risen dramatically in recent years, several states have also taken steps to further weaken child labour standards, exposing young people to hazardous working conditions and long working hours,” Seitz and Gudziak said. “The children of families living in poverty stand to suffer the most harm, but the innocence and dignity of all youth must be protected.”
Seitz and Gudziak said immigration reform is essential, if not at a comprehensive level then in small increments, as well as policies that “promote, preserve, and expand protections for all children". They argue that it’s possible to create a thriving economy with dignified conditions for all workers.
“The Church offers a vision for the future that does not require our society to choose between a thriving economy, economic justice, dignified conditions for all workers, and safeguarding the most vulnerable among us,” Seitz and Gudziak said. “Catholics have consistently implored civil leaders to recognise and protect the sacredness of the human person. We must reject an economy of exclusion.”<br><br><strong><em>RELATED: <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/wide-ranging-views-on-immigration-highlight-challenges-of-forming-the-catholic-conscience-in-the-modern-age/"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">Challenge of forming the Catholic conscience in modern era highlighted by wide-ranging views on immigration</mark></a></em></strong>
<em>Photo: Migrant farm workers from Mexico harvest organic spinach at the Grant Family Farms in Wellington, Colorado, 3 September 2010. The farm, the largest organic vegetable farm outside of California, hires some 250 immigrant workers during the peak harvest season. Owner Andy Grant says that the issue of illegal immigration has become politicised nationally. "They feed America," he said of immigrant workers. "They should not be victimised." Grant said his workers start at $7.25, which is the minimum wage in Colorado. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images.)</em>
