Whether you’re hanging out on the shores of our Great Lakes or in the backyard grilling burgers and drinking delicious Michigan beer, I wanted to reach out from my family to yours to wish you a Happy Labor Day.

But I also want you to take a moment today and reflect on the progress we’ve made thanks to our brothers and sisters in the labor movement -- and recommit our efforts to continue fighting for working families.

From paid sick leave to weekends and a minimum wage -- we owe a debt to the men and women of the labor movement who stood on picket lines and demanded dignity and security for their families.

Working people are the backbone of Michigan -- and I am proud to stand with those ready to build a better future for my kids and for yours.

Today, let’s commit to keep fighting for the teacher in an underfunded and overcrowded classroom who is doing her best to educate the next generation. Let’s commit to keep fighting for the healthcare worker who is assisting our most vulnerable citizens. Let’s commit to keep fighting for tradesmen and women, and auto-workers who built this state and our country and just want to make a living wage.

Let’s commit to taking action -- to fully fund our schools, to fix the damn roads, to clean up our drinking water, to repeal the retirement tax, and to respect and protect the working people of our state.

So enjoy your beer -- and together let’s get this done.

Gretchen