Labor Day provides an opportunity to honor those who provide essential services to local communities. From firefighters and policemen to postal workers, here’s how HOAs can go about honoring community workers this holiday.
Who are the Community Workers?
People often do not notice the individuals who provide them with essential services. However, these unsung heroes play a vital role in our daily lives and even ensure our safety. The community workers include postal workers, construction workers, cleaners, firefighters, policemen, and paramedics.
Without our postal workers, we would not get our mail on time—or at all. Meanwhile, construction workers do the heavy lifting and finish residential and community projects to ensure safety and beautify the environment. Cleaners keep communities and residences clean and preserve the lifespan of the property.
Policemen, paramedics, and firefighters are the first responders during an emergency. They put out fires, care for the sick, and keep criminals at bay. While these community workers might not always be around the neighborhood, they are always there to help the community when it needs it.
Honoring Community Workers
How should people honor community workers this Labor Day? Here are a few good ways.
1. Advocate for Community Workers
Labor Day was formed by the 19th-century labor movement and became a national holiday in 1894. At the time, workers were overwhelmed by the 12-hour, 7-day work week. Over 10,000 workers in New York City joined the movement and marched from City Hall to Union Square. Union and organized labor activists protested against the workers’ low wages and unsafe working environments.
Today, organized labor and unions continue to advocate for the voiceless workers. Residents and homeowners associations can support and honor community workers by advocating for their needs. Here are some practical ways to do just that:
- Offer a Fair Wage. Pay HOA contractors and other community workers, including disabled workers, a fair wage.
- Value Work-Life Balance. Recognize the importance of leaves and time off. Allow community workers to take paid leave when conducting community projects.
- Hire Fairly. Workers should be hired for their skills and expertise without prejudice. When hiring contractors and service providers, promote justice, inclusion, and diversity.
- Educate Young Workers. The HOA can host a community workshop to educate young workers about their workplace rights and the importance of labor unions.
- Support Ethical Brands. One small way to honor community workers is to choose ethical brands with fair labor practices.
2. Teach the Children About Labor Day
The future is in the hands of the younger generation. An excellent way to support community workers is by teaching kids the importance of laborers’ rights. Lots of children’s books exist to teach them the value of fairness. For example, The Day the Crayons Quit introduces the concept of individuality and fairness to children ages 4-8.
Meanwhile, older kids aged 7-11 might enjoy Side by Side/Lado a Lado. It’s a bilingual children’s book that details the lives of two work activists and teaches how powerful unity can be. Teenagers and pre-teens at age 12 might appreciate Undocumented: A Worker’s Fight. It highlights the toils of undocumented workers and teaches social consciousness and empathy.
Apart from these, homeowners associations can host a “Community Helpers Day” where children can learn how community workers help in their daily lives. The kids can dress up as their favorite community workers, such as doctors, nurses, firemen, policemen, postmen, and teachers. Through this activity, they can learn to trust these community workers and aspire to have a servant’s heart like them.
3. Send Thank-You Notes
A small Thank-You note is a nice way to show appreciation to the community’s workers. Consider sending a letter to the local fire or police department. Parents can also ask their kids to write thoughtful notes to show their appreciation and allow them to participate in Labor Day festivities. Moreover, community residents can send love gifts or small tokens of appreciation, such as a box of freshly baked pastries and goodies.
4. Attend Labor Day Festivals
Communities can sometimes host parades, picnics, or carnivals to honor Labor Day. Residents can show their support for the cause by attending these activities and celebrating the milestones labor unions have achieved. This can also foster social cohesion and a better sense of unity surrounding the cause.
5. Donate to Nonprofit Organizations and Unions
Residents can show their support by donating to organizations that champion workers’ rights. If enough people donate, it could boost their organizational progress and efficiency. Here are some of the organizations residents can consider donating to:
- National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) aims to include domestic workers in the Fair Labor Standards Act.
- Working America. This organization advocates for those who cannot access unions and helps them get paid sick leave, higher minimum wage, and other rights.
Center for Labor Education and Research. This organization advocates for policies that support better wages, workers’ rights, and the right to strike.- American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). This federation includes 60 national and international unions representing over 12.5 million workers.
- Working for America Institute (WAI). This organization increases the role of unions in maintaining and creating good jobs.
- Women Employed aims to remove workplace barriers for women. It protects female workers’ rights by advocating for equal pay, fair access to education, and workplace inclusiveness.
- The Salvation Army. This institution runs charity shops and homeless shelters, relieving the unemployed.
6. Volunteer
Despite being a holiday, many community workers still work on Labor Day. Consider helping by volunteering at a local police department, fire department, or hospital. These institutions may be open to accepting volunteers so the other community workers can take a break or have a lighter workload.
Celebrating Essential Workers
Honoring community workers can be as easy as simply sending Thank-You notes or providing them with tokens of appreciation like goodie baskets. Labor Day provides people with an opportunity to appreciate these local heroes and allows them to foster deeper bonds with their community.
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