To the Journal editor:

This Labor Day we celebrate all who make this country run and the incredible achievements of America’s workers.

But we also should recognize that despite our sweat, our sacrifice and our innovation, too many families are struggling and unable to get by. This hasn’t happened by chance. The rise in political and corporate attacks on working people has meant that for decades wages have declined or remained flat.

Good jobs have become harder to come by. Unemployment remains too high. Large raises have gone almost exclusively to CEOs, corporate shareholders and the 1percent.

No one should work for a living yet struggle to support a family. Working people everywhere are taking matters into their own hands.

This year, we have witnessed some incredible achievements across the country and a growing workers’ movement:

Thanks to public pressure and volunteers who collected hundreds of thousands of signatures, dozens of municipalities and 10 states have passed minimum wage increases since January.

Three states have passed Domestic Workers Bills of Rights, expanding basic labor protections to workers who are vulnerable to wage theft, harassment and abuse.

Campaigns to give all workers access to paid sick leave are seeing success in 22 states and four major cities.

The frustrations of low-wage workers have received unprecedented attention. Whether its fast food workers fighting for $15 an hour or Walmart workers demanding an end to illegal retaliation and minimum salaries of $25,000 a year.

Workers are organizing to form unions on the job. More than 90,000 workers joined AFSCME, the state and county employees union, this year.

More than ever before, this election in November is a battle over the future of working families. Americans, whether they are progressives or members of the Tea Party, are looking for candidates who understand their economic struggles.

Working people want elected officials who will stand with us rather than with the wealthy and corporations.

No one has felt the impact of political change in Lansing greater than the teachers across the state of Michigan. With the systematic passing of legislation targeting the rights of teachers and other public employees, we have seen the devastation of school districts and municipalities across the state.

The future of our state, and our way of life, is on the line. We need your support and vote for candidates that support working families this November. Will you help?

Chris Wagner

Marquette