This Labor Day, we proudly join workers across the nation in honoring the legacy and ongoing work of the labor movement. This is more than a long weekend marking the start of the school year—it is a time to reflect on the power of collective action and the rights that were hard-won by those who came before us.
As a union of educators, CEA has been organizing for justice and dignity in the workplace for 177 years—longer than Labor Day has been recognized as a national holiday. Our proud history informs our work today, and we carry that legacy into every classroom, contract negotiation, and advocacy effort we take on together.
For generations, unions have been the driving force behind better working conditions and fundamental protections for all workers. Among the most significant victories include protections against child labor, the establishment of the eight‑hour workday and the standard 40‑hour workweek, the right to unionize and bargain collectively, and paid vacations and holidays.
Here in Connecticut, we also pause to remember the historic Bridgeport teachers’ strike and the sacrifices made by our colleagues—those who paved the way for the organizing rights and contract protections we now safeguard and build upon. That spirit of determination still fuels our work as we continue to fight for fully funded public education, respect for our profession, and the well‑being of every educator and student in our state.
This Labor Day, we invite all CEA members to take a moment to honor the labor movement—past, present, and future. We are more than educators. We are organizers. We are a union. And we are solidarity in action.
