Labor Day and the unofficial end of summer are upon us. On Labor Day we celebrate the work you do, the work we all do. It’s a day to celebrate the workforce and acknowledge the work carried out year-round.  

We commemorate the struggles Labor Movement activists undertook to provide all workers across our nation with a more fair, just and equitable workplace. Thanks to unions and labor organizers, we have overtime pay and weekends off, health and safety regulations which lead to the creation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and even get to count on benefits like social security. And the fight for a better, safer and fairer workplace continues to this day.

One of the pillars of the labor movement is fair pay for equitable labor, an issue that continues to resonate. And some of those struggles still affect many of our employees today. For that reason, USDA and Forest Service leadership continue our work with Congress, ironing out a long-term solution for a permanent, competitive pay structure for our wildland firefighters. And we recently managed to approve a temporary housing refund that we estimate will benefit close to 5,500 employees in Forest Service housing through the end of fiscal year 2024. We are making progress to address these issues and more, and I will talk with you about them more in the very near future.

For the Forest Service, Labor Day can mean high visitation to national forests and grasslands and explosive fire behavior. Through it all, you continue doing great work. Your commitment and professionalism shine brightly as you serve the American people, whether you are engaging with the public, conducting research, fighting fires or otherwise carrying out our mission.

Those visitation numbers and fire danger mean this weekend is not work-free for all. Some of you will be welcoming visitors, others will have their hands full with the wildfires still active across the nation.  As I mentioned recently, long-term fatigue is a concern we are working diligently to address. I do encourage you all to carve out some time to recharge and talk to your supervisor if you find yourself feeling overwhelmed.

This Labor Day, remember that the labor we are recognizing is provided by each and every one of you. Your public service, your dedication to our mission and the communities and partners we serve is, quite simply, exceptional. I take heart from the great work I see you doing on behalf of our nation. Thank you for all you do every day to steward the nation’s forests and grasslands in service to the American people. If you have the holiday off, I hope you enjoy your well-deserved time off and, if you don’t, I encourage you to take time when you can to decompress.

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