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Laura Fortman is the commissioner of the Maine Department of Labor.
As students return to school and summer winds down, Labor Day invites us to pause and reflect on the millions of workers — past and present — who power our communities, drive our economy, and form the foundation of our country’s success.
Labor Day was created in the late 19th century to recognize the contributions of working people to America’s growth and prosperity. At its core, this day isn’t about a long weekend or the unofficial end of summer. It’s about honoring the dignity of work, the strength of labor, and the workers whose hands have built and sustained this nation.
From factory floors to classrooms, fields to construction sites, hospitals to home offices, it is the collective effort of workers that keeps our economy running. Every worker deserves respect, fair treatment, safe working conditions, and a genuine opportunity to thrive.
But this Labor Day arrives at a pivotal moment. Across the country, longstanding labor protections — many established during the Great Depression and Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal — are under threat. These protections, fought for by past generations, are being weakened or dismantled. And while Maine continues to lead on many fronts, national trends should give us serious pause.
One troubling trend is the rollback of child labor laws in several states. These laws were created in response to the harsh realities children once faced — working long hours in dangerous conditions for little pay. While today’s workplaces look different, the danger remains real. Children are still being injured on the job, even here in Maine. Protecting their health, safety, and education isn’t just a policy goal, it’s a moral imperative.
Our children deserve a future grounded in opportunity — through education and, when appropriate, safe, structured work that supports growth and learning. We cannot trade long-term success for short-term gain.
Although the New Deal advanced workers’ rights, not everyone was protected. Among those left out were agricultural workers and people with disabilities — two groups whose labor and potential have long been undervalued. Maine has taken important steps to address these gaps.
In 2020, Maine eliminated the sub-minimum wage for workers with disabilities. We believe that every person has value, every contribution matters, and integrated employment is not only achievable, it’s essential. When people with disabilities work alongside their peers for equal pay, it strengthens our economy and our communities.
Next year, agricultural workers in Maine will, for the first time, be guaranteed the state minimum wage. This long-overdue policy change recognizes the vital contributions of farmworkers and begins to correct generations of exclusion.
These victories didn’t happen by accident. They were the result of persistent advocacy, organizing, and leadership from unions, workers, and policymakers.
Maine is continuing this progress through programs like Paid Family and Medical Leave, launching in 2026. This initiative will be a lifeline for workers, allowing them to care for loved ones, welcome new children, or recover from illness without risking their financial stability. It’s a clear example of how government, when it listens to and partners with workers, can create systems that uplift everyone.
The Maine Department of Labor continues to play a vital role in this mission — enforcing worker protections, amplifying the voices of those too often unheard, and working alongside unions and employers to build more equitable workplaces.
We’re inspired by trailblazers like Frances Perkins, FDR’s secretary of labor and the first woman to serve in a U.S. presidential cabinet. Perkins helped shape the foundation of modern labor policy — including Social Security, unemployment insurance, and the 40-hour workweek.
She once said: “The people are what matter to government, and a government should aim to give all the people under its jurisdiction the best possible life.”
That’s our guiding principle, and our ongoing challenge.
How do we stand up for young workers, those with disabilities, working families struggling to get by? We do it by showing up — through organizing, voting, speaking out, and defending the rights that previous generations fought to secure.
Whether you’re in a union or not, whether you work in a hospital, restaurant, school, or from home, your voice matters. Push back against efforts to weaken worker protections. Keep fighting for fairness.
This Labor Day, let’s celebrate not just with gratitude, but with purpose. Let’s honor workers — not only by remembering their contributions, but by continuing the work.
