A message from President Kelley.

This Labor Day rushes in as we are still catching our collective breath from the frenzy of the Democratic National Convention.

For those of us who participated in person, it was an exhilarating blur of meaningful and power-building experiences—with the urban center many of us call home playing host to so many of the vital voices seeking to reinvigorate our democracy at this crucial juncture.

And I am proud to say that it was a forum in which labor was front and center. As your representative, I had too many meaningful and groundbreaking encounters to list here—but all left me with the deep conviction that a Kamala Harris and Tim Walz administration will be an administration which cares deeply about care workers.

We saw not only our own Judy Hunter, home care worker from the South Side of Chicago, drive home the importance of making care jobs GOOD jobs during a breakout panel—but also had the opportunity to applaud our International President (and former HCII Executive VP!) April Verrett on the national stage.

While I have long known that Kamala Harris is a staunch advocate for care work, reproductive rights and a caring society that truly cares for all, I was truly touched by Tim Walz’s unscripted interaction with his son. His politics are obviously motivated by the personal—a love for family and a love big enough for all of us.

I can’t help but contrast this deep empathy with its opposite—the absolute lack of care and caring we experienced in 2020 when the Trump administration left us without the PPE and other resources we needed to save lives and instead denied both our suffering and the severity of the COVID crisis itself.

As a nation, we are still recovering from that  “leadership.” We cannot afford to go back to those dark times. It is a time to choose love and solidarity. It’s a time to go forward.

This Labor Day, I want to celebrate the love that brings each and every one of you to care work. And to the work of caring for one another and our shared communities through our union.

We have work to do in the coming weeks. But for now, I wish you rest, relaxation and recuperation this Labor Day with your loved ones at hand.

In Solidarity,

Greg Kelley

President, SEIU HCIIMK