Labor Day Rally for Union Rights & Electoral Action

SAN FRANCISCO (09-07) – In recognizing Labor Day workers’ rights and the looming midterm elections, a rally was held by federal employees, labor union members and other activists calling for a strategic mobilization plan to capture Democratic control of Congress and the Senate. Assembled outside of the Phillip Burton Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse the group called for engagement and canvassing of voters to encourage their participation in creating a progressive tidal wave to save our democracy.

Ahead of the holiday celebrating workers contributions to honor and recognize the American labor movement and laborers that have built this country, President Trump, to celebrate, issued a letter on August 28 calling for the freezing of most federal workers wages for 2027 at their 2026 level. The only exception would be increases of 3.8% for law enforcement and as much as 3.6% to 7% for various military personnel by grade. To debunk the argument that the federal workforce is bloated, John of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) pointed out that Trump, through DOGE, had already “illegally let go of 300,000 federal employees without cause.”

He urged everyone to register and get out and vote, vote, vote Democrat to take over the House and Senate. Warning that not doing so would result in a future already demonstrated by the federal occupations of Chicago and Minnesota. He ended by declaring that the administration will use the US Postal Service to thwart voting by mail and urged voters to drop off their ballots at curbside ballot boxes in urging Governor Newsom of California and governors of other states to increase the number of boxes and early voting stations.

Josh Zier, a member of the American Federation of Government Employees whose union represents the Veterans Association Healthcare System, who also serves as the co-chair of the SF Bay Area chapter of FUN, the (Federal Unionist Network) reflected on his personal thoughts saying he stands “with fellow working people, union members, organizers, and advocates for justice, to say that despite the efforts of this administration to hinder, privatize, and otherwise undermine unions and public sector civil service work, we are not going anywhere. Federal civil servants take an oath upon assuming their jobs. This oath is not to a president, or to tech bros, or to oligarchs. This oath is to the American people… Our power is in our numbers, our solidarity, our willingness to speak out, support each other, and fight. Because when we fight, we win.”

In closing, he warned that the “forces of Fascism act to make us feel weak, to feel scared, turn working people against each other, demonize the immigrant, the trans-person, the person in poverty. We need to recognize and fight the real enemies, those that cynically tell us that things can't be better, shouldn't be better. We know that if we have the money, that money can instead be used to fight poverty, homelessness, and provide universal health care.”

The rally ended on the positive and overwhelming messages conveyed by those who spoke regarding the preservation and expansion of union membership, and workers’ rights, and to critically begin to reform activism from episodic protest to a repeatable civic operating system.

This includes canvassing voters to discuss the critical nature and issues of the mid-term election and by encouraging everyone to use their power of the vote to bring about the positive and equitable change so badly needed in today’s America.

Report and photos by Phil Pasquini

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