As Labor Day approaches, many Americans are preparing to mark the holiday with family gatherings, backyard barbecues and a final taste of summer before fall. But beyond the fun and tradition, Labor Day remains an important reminder of the sacrifices and solidarity that secured the wages, rights and workplace protections workers rely on today. It is a day to honor the victories of the labor movement, reflect on the challenges still facing America’s workforce and recommit to the principle that progress is only possible when workers stand together.
A Day With Deep Roots
More than a date on the calendar, Labor Day is a national reflection on the value of work itself. From the coal mines and textile mills of the 19th century to today’s airports, hospitals, and police and fire departments, the holiday honors the people whose labor built and sustains our country.
The early struggles for fair pay, safer workplaces and reasonable hours remind us that progress was never automatic; it was secured by ordinary men and women who refused to accept dangerous or demeaning conditions as the price of a paycheck. That same spirit of persistence and advocacy is what drives LAAPOA’s work on behalf of our members today.
Modern Challenges, Familiar Struggles
Although many of the original battles for labor rights have been won, the challenges workers face continue to evolve. Rising costs of living, stagnant wages in many industries and constant technological disruption remind us that the fight for equity is ongoing. With the city of Los Angeles set to host a flurry of massive sporting events in the upcoming years — the FIFA World Cup, Super Bowl, and Olympic and Paralympic Games — labor groups recently gathered outside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 22 to push for a multibillion-dollar investment to build 50,000 units of housing, a prohibition on Airbnb and other short-term rentals, more transparency in venue agreements and more.
“After the Games are over, what’s left for L.A.?” Armando Elenes, secretary-treasurer of United Farm Workers, asked the L.A. Times.
LAAPOA’s Role in Protecting Peace Officers
These questions about fairness and long-term investment resonate far beyond housing and hospitality. They are the same concerns LAAPOA has raised for years about making sure our officers, who will be tasked with keeping millions of visitors safe during these global events, are not overlooked when it comes to resources, equipment and staffing.
LAX is ranked as the seventh busiest passenger airport in the world, and millions of additional travelers will be coming through the airport during these major sporting events. This reality became clearer when the House Appropriations Subcommittee included Congresswoman Maxine Waters’ requested $963,000 in federal funding to improve LAXPD’s vehicle fleet and equipment in its markup of the fiscal year 2026 bill.
The funding comes after years of LAAPOA urging airport management and city officials to replace unsafe, aging patrol cars and provide officers with the resources they need.
National leaders, including President Donald Trump through the recently signed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, have also committed billions of dollars to security planning for these events. LAAPOA is working to ensure that similar commitments are made year-round for the officers who protect millions of travelers passing through LAX daily.
Addressing the security and resource challenges tied to the Olympics and other global events is just one of the many battles LAAPOA has fought — and won — over the years. The victories we’ve achieved on behalf of our members, and the benefits we and our statewide partners at PORAC provide, have included political advocacy, legal defense, successful contract negotiations and much more.
This Labor Day, LAAPOA remains as dedicated as ever to fighting for equity in wages, benefits, equipment, training and working conditions for our members, and we have put Los Angeles leaders on notice that we will not back down from that fight.
“Labor Day is a celebration of what working people can achieve when they stand together, but it’s also a reminder that the fight never ends,” LAAPOA President Marshall McClain says. “From securing federal funding for our officers’ equipment to pressing for long-term investment ahead of the World Cup and Olympics, LAAPOA will continue to ensure that our members are never left behind. Our strength is in our unity, and we will always stand strong for fair treatment, safe working conditions and the respect our peace officers deserve.”