Labor Day 2025 in North America saw a groundswell of union activism and public protest, as workers across the United States and Canada took to the streets to demand fair treatment, higher wages, and the protection of collective bargaining rights. From Toronto to Parkersburg, from Philadelphia to Oxnard, the message was clear: working people are determined to make their voices heard in the face of government crackdowns and corporate resistance.
In Toronto, the spirit of defiance was palpable on September 1, as about 40 Air Canada flight attendants marched through the city. These workers, members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), had recently participated in a strike from August 16 to 19—the first such action by Air Canada flight attendants in four decades. Their demands were straightforward: higher wages and compensation for all hours worked. Yet, their strike was met with swift resistance from Ottawa, which declared the action illegal and issued a back-to-work order. According to The Militant, this was the fourth time in a year that the federal government had used anti-labor laws to quash strikes.
Despite the government’s intervention, the flight attendants’ resolve remained unbroken. "If there’s something to celebrate it’s that we stood up to the government, and workers across the country saw that it is possible," Larry Roy, a former flight attendant and CUPE Local 4092 vice president, told The Militant. Yet, Roy also expressed deep disappointment with Air Canada itself, adding, "It’s clear to me that they never intended to negotiate in good faith and were counting on the government to rule us back to work." The flight attendants were in the midst of voting on the company’s proposal, a process set to conclude on September 6.
Their struggle resonated far beyond Toronto. Kaveh Ali-Akbar-Khani, a Toronto letter carrier and member of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, praised the flight attendants for standing up to corporate power. He noted that postal workers themselves were still in negotiations with Canada Post, having also faced government-imposed back-to-work orders.
South of the border, Labor Day became a rallying point for union members and supporters across the United States. The AFL-CIO Labor Day parade in Philadelphia drew thousands of unionists and their families, while Miami International Airport saw 300 workers gather to celebrate recent contract victories and push for further gains. Lisa Eckscein, who works at the Miami Marlins stadium, told The Militant she was proud of winning "higher wages, better health coverage and an extra paid holiday" last year. But the mood wasn’t entirely celebratory. Patrick Volcin, an organizer with UNITE HERE Local 355, warned, "Bosses are using the government’s immigration crackdown and employee firings to shrink the workforce and make everyone work twice as hard for the same amount of money."
The issue of immigrant rights loomed large at many events. In Wilmington, California, a Labor Day rally organized by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union was animated by chants of "No hate. No fear. Immigrants are welcome here." Retired longshoreman David Alvarez voiced frustration at government raids targeting day laborers, saying, "They’re targeting people who are just getting by." Norton Sandler, a Socialist Workers Party candidate for governor of California, argued that unions should break from traditional political parties and pursue independent working-class political action. Alvarez welcomed this call for a new direction.
Farmworkers, often among the most vulnerable laborers, were not left out of the day’s activism. At a Central Coast Labor Council picnic in Oxnard, California, several dozen farmworkers participated in a multilingual program. Teresa Romero, president of the United Farm Workers union, introduced Flor, a farmworker who shared her fears: "It’s not right that we are working, scared to leave our houses, not knowing if we’ll return home or not." Many farmworkers, she explained, had initially stayed home out of fear of immigration raids, but economic necessity forced them back to the fields.
Meanwhile, in the Mid-Ohio Valley region of West Virginia and Ohio, the "Workers Over Billionaires" campaign brought about 250 protesters to five events in Wood and Washington counties. According to The Marietta Times, these demonstrations—organized by Indivisible MOV—took place in Marietta, Parkersburg, and Williamstown, with protestors urging the public to prioritize the needs of laborers over the interests of the wealthiest Americans. Attendance was robust: 88 in Marietta, 38 outside Parkersburg South High School, 37 on Seventh Street outside the IBEW building, more than 50 at Parkersburg’s City Park, and 46 in Williamstown.
Protesters in the region were outspoken about their concerns. "I think it’s important people take a stand and do whatever they can to put up resistance to what’s happening in Washington, what’s happening in the White House," said Nick Noel of Vienna. Janice Fenton of Williamstown pointed to the economic toll on the state: "West Virginia is losing thousands of jobs. We are down 7,600 since the July jobs report. We need to do more than have workers build a ballroom." Eric Engle, a labor union leader from Parkersburg, explained his motivation: "I came out here to support federal employees and our unions. We have lost our collective bargaining rights to bogus executive orders that are unlawful. Over a million of us, and counting. There’s more coming. I am here to represent federal employees and getting our collective bargaining rights back in any way we can."
For many, the Labor Day events were about more than just wages or contracts—they were about reclaiming the dignity and power of the working class. In Atlanta, Sharon Mason, a ramp agent at Delta, described the challenges of organizing in a climate of fear and uncertainty: "Some co-workers are afraid to talk about the union. And many young workers aren’t really sure what a union is, so we have to talk with them and answer their questions." Susan LaMont, a candidate for mayor of Atlanta, saw hope in these efforts: "From the flight attendants’ actions here, as well as the union effort at Delta, more workers are turning to their unions to defend themselves against company assaults. We’ll get stronger as workers gain experience and grow more confident in ourselves."
Workers also shared stories of ongoing struggles. In Philadelphia, young sheet metal workers discussed with Socialist Workers Party member Chris Hoeppner the need for more paid holidays and better working conditions. One worker lamented that they only receive one paid holiday every four years—to vote for president—but are often laid off the week before and after, negating even that small benefit.
As the day’s events drew to a close, the sense of solidarity was unmistakable. Whether in large cities or small towns, union halls or city parks, workers and their allies demonstrated a renewed commitment to fighting for justice, dignity, and a fair share of the prosperity they help create. The next meeting of Indivisible MOV was set for September 6 in Marietta, offering yet another opportunity for activists to strategize and build on the momentum of Labor Day 2025.
Labor Day this year wasn’t just a holiday—it was a powerful reminder that the labor movement, in all its diversity, remains a vital force for social change across North America.
