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BMWED's Labor Day Message 2020

Published: Sep 4 2020 12:26PM

Labor is important. Often, it gives us identity. Self-worth. When the pandemic set in this March, it revealed several things. If ever it were crystal clear that workers keep the world afloat, it was the immediate halt of the economy. Practically overnight, as the economic house of cards was wobbling, those in the transportation, delivery, and the service industry – for decades unheralded – propped it all up.

Railroaders are among that group. Keeping grocery shelves stocked and hospital supplies available, BMWED members played a vital role in steadying the economic ship. Mind you, we always have, only now that spotlight shined so brightly that everyone noticed.

This has been a strange year. Stressful, hard, at times scary. Workers everywhere have had to make tough decisions in order to provide for our families. The adversity has been challenging. The worry of a virus, our own health and the health of others. The ability to make a livelihood weighted with our civic responsibility to tamp down this deadly pandemic. 

Labor Day 2020 is different than years past. No parades. Fewer cookouts. Less of the customary fanfare. But it shines much brighter. All work is dignified. All labor is important. America cannot run without the hard work and dedication of laborers everywhere. This Labor Day weekend, we salute all workers who kept us afloat and on-track. Your contributions were then and are now forever substantial.