For many people, Labor Day means three things: a day off from work, the start of the school year, and the last official day of summer. Yet how many people realize the reason why we celebrate Labor Day? Labor Day is a day that is dedicated to appreciating the contributions of the working middle class and how they help build our country's strength and prosperity. It has been celebrated as a national holiday in the United States since 1894. With union avoidance and union busting being a multi-billion dollar industry in corporate America, would today's government be so brave as to make a national holiday out of respect to workers and the labor movement like they did back in 1894?

The organized labor movement helped established America's middle class. It did so by helping workers come together and form a union to collectively bargain for a living wage, health insurance, retirement security, and safety in the workplace.  Yet America's middle class has suffered more during the last decade than any other time in modern history; losing income, losing wealth, losing security and most importantly losing hope for their future. Does anyone think it is a coincidence that the declining living standards of the middle class coincided with the political efforts to emasculate the unions and their workers? At the same time that Wall Street CEOs and their corporate greed are riding high and enjoying the security that came in the form of taxpayer bailouts, unions and working people are being blamed and degraded for the problems in this country.  This is never more evident than in Nassau County, where all public employees have had their salaries frozen for the third consecutive year, even though they currently all have valid collective bargaining agreements through 2015. Where Correction Officers who have over three years on the job are still frozen at the initial start step of $30,000 a year.  Even though our collective bargaining agreement has a gradual progression of salaries to a more appropriate level based on their years of service and experience, Correction Officers in Nassau County with over three years on the job, many of whom have spouses and children to support,  are closer to qualifying for public assistance and food stamps than they are to being considered middle class. That is the message we should all be thinking about this Labor Day. Hard working public employees didn't create the fiscal crisis in Nassau County, but there is no doubt we are paying the price for it!

Despite being frozen in their salaries and struggling to pay their own bills, and with very little fanfare, Nassau COBA members historically always give back to those in need.  As you will see below, COBA members continually raise funds year round and donate their time and their hard earned money while participating in events for charitable causes such as the Wounded Warriors Project and Canoe 4 Kids, which benefits children with life-threatening illnesses.  I am extremely proud to represent all of my hardworking, generous COBA brothers and sisters. As always, great job! - John Jaronczyk, President