[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
[August 28, 1995]
[Page 1272]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Message on the Observance of Labor Day, 1995
August 28, 1995

    Each year at this time we pause to reflect on the value of labor and 
the accomplishments of the American worker. This country's success 
depends on the efforts of its citizens to open the door to a better 
future. Work is the engine that drives our economy forward, moves 
struggling families upward into the middle class, and creates 
opportunities for our children. We must continually strive to create 
more opportunity for work for those who are willing to take the 
responsibility to make better lives for themselves and their families. 
Our labors ensure that the blessings of life, liberty, and the pursuit 
of happiness will benefit generations to come.
    Let us give thanks to those who came before us and who strived to 
improve working conditions and create fair labor laws. They risked their 
livelihoods and often their very lives to ensure that children could go 
to school instead of to work in mines and factories, that laborers could 
work without risking injury, and that Americans who toiled throughout 
the week would be rewarded with a decent living and could spend more 
time raising their families. These reformers brought dignity to the 
workplace and integrity to our society.
    Today, we recognize that management and labor face common challenges 
and a shared destiny in the global economy. We must continue our efforts 
to create further job growth and new opportunities, enabling more of our 
citizens to realize the American Dream. As we celebrate Labor Day, we 
can find strength and renewed inspiration in the Dream--the idea that we 
can be good workers as well as good parents and that, through our 
individual efforts, we can build better lives for our children.
    Best wishes to all for a memorable and meaningful holiday.

                                                            Bill Clinton