Jack, you know why Starbucks workers across the country are trying to unionize? Because the new CEO will be making over $28 million a year. That's 800x the pay of the barista that makes your cup of coffee.

Currently, it's the writers and actors in the film and television industry grabbing the limelight, but workers across the country, in various industries, are rising up and collectively organizing for living wages, safer working conditions, and better benefits. Whether it's flight attendants, automakers, teachers, nurses, hotel housekeepers, UPS drivers, and yes, even the staff of Daily Kos; labor unions are seeing a much needed resurgence that is decades in the making.

In the 1950s, nearly a third of all private sector workers in the United States were part of a union. Their power was so influential that even workers that were not unionized got the benefits of every union contract because employers were afraid more workers would start organizing unions.

However, over the past four decades or so, the laws and regulations that allowed workers to unionize have been eroded to the point of being toothless. All while monopolies prosper and the wealthiest in our country get even richer—all on the backs of American workers.

Unfortunately, today only 6% of workers in the private sector are part of a union. Hopefully, that's about to change. Two-thirds of Americans approve labor unions—that's on par with approval in the late 1950s through the 1970s.

This Labor Day, can you stand with American workers by making a donation of $1 to seven organizations that are working to support, engage and give a voice to workers. Please donate to support their efforts to build an economy that works for all of us.

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Thank you for all you do,
Amanda McKay, Daily Kos

Daily Kos, PO Box 70036, Oakland, CA, 94612.