Labor Day is a more than 100-year-old holiday that recognizes American workers’ decades of fighting to win livable wages and decent working hours and conditions. Organized events like Labor Day parades helped to publicize their causes and, ultimately, to transform the lives of hard-working people. Today, workers are continuing to use the power of organizing and the recognition of Labor Day to improve the quality of life for all Americans.

While most of the country lounges at backyard barbeques this Labor Day holiday, unionists will be taking advantage of the day-off to emphasize the Labor Movement’s message on health care reform.

President Obama is scheduled to speak at the AFL-CIO’s annual Labor Day picnic in Cincinnati that more than 30,000 union members are expected to attend. Many have spent the weekend preparing health care reform signs that stress the Labor Movement’s support of a public option.

The Transport Workers Union’s International Executive Council and International Executive Board will be meeting all week to discuss and adopt important health care resolutions, among others, to be evaluated by delegates at the union’s Convention on Sept.14-18. “Health care is one of the most important issues we will be addressing at this year’s meetings and Convention,” said International President James C. Little. “I’m happy to spend Labor Day working towards enacting a bill that will help all American people – union or non-union.”

The Greater Boston Labor Council will use its annual labor breakfast to honor the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy, but also to voice support for his lifelong cause: universal health coverage. The Council anticipates thousands of demonstrators to participate.

The Service Employees International Union is sponsoring “Let’s Get It Done” Labor Day health care demonstrations in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and several other cities. It is also encouraging its members to flood Capitol Hill with thousands of phone calls on Wednesday, the day of the President Obama’s much-anticipated national address on health care.

The AFL-CIO Union Label and Service Trades Department (UL&STD) is using Labor Day to kick-off another important campaign, separate from health care reform: “Buy Union” week. The campaign will run from Sept. 7 through Sept. 12, and will encourage Americans to seek out and support union goods and services. “When you buy union, you not only get the highest quality goods and services,” said UL&STD President Richard Kline, “but you also help maintain good union wages and benefits that sustain the quality of life in U.S. communities.”

Every union member and every American deserves a good quality of life that includes decent wages, benefits and health care. Labor Day is a fitting one to unite and fight for health care reform that will better the lives of all Americans.