By Olivia Levin, Alliance Intern from American University ’25
Labor Day, in my experience, doesn’t have much significance beyond a day off or a marker of the end of summer. But this year, as I round the corner on a new school year after working with the Alliance, I felt more inclined to find out what that holiday is actually about. First founded in 1894, Labor Day serves to honor the US workers and their contributions to our society. Labor movements and environmental movements have long worked hand-in-hand to protect our planet and improve the lives of its inhabitants — in simpler terms, sustainability.
Though I’ve learned about some parts of US labor’s history in school, I had never realized that values of sustainability and environmental protection were at the heart of those events. The rapid growth of American industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries gave rise to new challenges for workers. Though high demand made factory jobs plentiful, working conditions were often grueling and unsafe. Seeking to protect the common interest of workers, the labor movement fought for healthier working conditions, fairer pay and the foundation of unions.
Along with advocating for workers, the movement championed environmental conservation and opposed the large-scale exploitation of the nation’s natural resources. Economic hardships during the Great Depression spurred the creation of relief programs like the Civilian Conservation Corps, which provided unemployed laborers with jobs restoring farmland and neglected natural areas.
In the wake of World War II, industry’s negative impact on the environment became a public concern. New ecological movements from this era were the catalysts for critical legislation like the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act.
Today, American workers are still an important voice in the future of environmental research and policy. A major product of this collaboration in recent years is the BlueGreen Alliance, which brings together labor unions and environmental organizations in pursuit of environmental, racial, and economic equity. A similar organization is the Labor Network for Sustainability which aims to mobilize labor forces in search of science-based climate action.
In learning more about labor’s role in sustainability, I feel hopeful for the progress happening in the workforce I’ll soon be entering. Many labor unions are engaged in initiatives that directly benefit their local communities. Labor-led coalitions in Rhode Island, for example, work to secure funds to renovate and improve the sustainability of public schools. In Baltimore, the United Steelworkers union has partnered with US Wind to transform their mills into clean energy producers.
Even though I don’t yet know what my career path will look like, I’m comforted to know that organizations like these will have my back in the workplace. Beyond that, it’s inspiring that people working in all different industries can come together through a common vision of environmentalism in their communities.
Still, labor’s relationship with the environment isn’t all peachy. Organized labor often has conflicts with companies whose primary focus is profit. Some sustainable choices cost more and the companies resist because they don’t fit into their bottom line. At the same time, there can be conflicts with environmentalists over whether an industry should even exist.
For instance, the UAW and auto companies alike are resistant to electric vehicles (EVs) as they are more expensive and would require a major overhaul of their current offerings. Most EV manufacturing in the US is done in non-union states in the south, which has created some resistance to EVs overall by organized labor. Meanwhile, the development of nuclear power plants has caused conflict between environmentalists and labor unions.
At other times, there has been a total alignment between labor and those supporting sustainability. For example, the Service Employees International Union has fought hard to raise the minimum wage to at least $15/hour. The United Farm Workers Union has worked closely with the Alliance for Sustainability in seeking to assure adequate pay, proper housing, basic organizing rights and the banning of hazardous pesticides.
I’ve often seen labor unions stigmatized, and deciding whether or not to join one can be a really intimidating decision. Entering a union is necessary in some fields, but could put your job at risk in other industries. I’m passionate about making a difference in my community, but I’ll also need to keep myself afloat once I’m out of school. This Labor Day will mark the start of my final year of college, and I have a lot to reflect on as I get ready to make my way in the world.
This year, I implore you to take the opportunity to explore labor’s storied history as it intersects with ecological movements. My generation especially feels a looming sense of eco-anxiety and powerlessness in the face of the climate crisis. However, the collaboration between organized labor and environmentalists can play a key role in addressing these challenges and creating a future of sustainability for all.