Rep. Ed Osienski, D-Newark, is chair of the House of Representatives’ Labor Committee. Rep. Kim Williams, D-Newport, is its vice chair. Sen. Bryan Townsend, D-Newark, is chair of the Senate’s Labor Committee, while Sen. Jack Walsh, D-Stanton, is the vice chair.
As we mark the 130th Labor Day in our nation’s history, it is important to recognize and reflect on the importance of labor and union rights here in Delaware. As chairs and vice chairs of the House and Senate labor committees, we have been and will forever be committed to delivering progress and improving rights that all Delawareans should have.
As workers’ needs have grown, we have been there to answer their call to action and make sure that everyone has an equal opportunity to provide for their family. In the last few years, we have further strengthened the foundation of labor rights with the support of unions throughout our state. This has aligned with the revival of unions and increased public support nationwide. Last year, Gallup found that two-thirds of Americans approve of labor unions.
In the coming year, we will see important programs, which all of us have supported, begin to be implemented throughout our state. On Jan. 1, 2025, a fairer minimum wage of $15 per hour will be implemented. Additionally, on this date, we will see Delaware’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program begin to collect the resources that will support workers beginning Jan. 1, 2026.
As part of the effort to recruit and retain workers throughout the state, we have continued to invest in our state workforce, with all merit state employees receiving a 2% pay increase. This pay raise marks the third year in a row of investment in our state employees.
We also have invested in our education workforce, with those members receiving at least a 2% raise. Teachers and nonadministration classroom staff will receive various raises up to 8%, as recommended by the Public Education Compensation Committee.
As part of an effort to better prepare the workers of tomorrow, we continue to advocate for programs that will provide support for Delawareans of all ages. These programs consist of scholarships, tax reductions or credits and training programs to learn new skills in a variety of careers, such as health care, technology, education, trades, agriculture and more. By providing opportunities like these, it shows how our state has responded to the growing needs of our workforce and economy.
In the 152nd General Assembly, we took several steps to improve and support worker protections, including service workers during changes of a company’s ownership. We have updated several parts of the unemployment program, including increasing the maximum weekly benefit, extending deadlines and revising the unemployment assessment rates to employers.
As part of our ongoing work to protect Delaware workers, we have improved the prevailing-wage statute by closing a loophole that enabled lower wages simply if the rigorous work was completed off-site and improved boards and councils such as the Council on Boiler Safety and the Board of Elevator Mechanics. Additionally, we also passed a community workforce agreement pilot program that will provide a preproject agreement governing the terms of “labor workforce,” “community” and “minority participation” for up to six projects in the state.
On this Labor Day, the foundation of our working class in the First State is strong and getting stronger, with the progress of additional protections, increased salaries, more benefits and opportunities for all Delawareans. This work is critical to our state. We will continue to make sure labor rights in Delaware are secure and to build a future that will allow us to make sure no one is left behind and that everyone has a chance to succeed in the years ahead.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org .
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