As we celebrate our 131st Labor Day and look ahead to next year’s 250th Anniversary of our state’s and nation’s independence, it is essential to acknowledge that Delaware’s workforce has been a vital part of our state’s achievements throughout history. We are deeply grateful to our workers across all trades and industries for their daily contributions to our residents and communities across Delaware.
We’ve made significant progress since the early days of the agricultural industry, which is honored on our flag during the era of the Four C’s — cars, chickens, chemicals, and credit cards. As our workforce has evolved, one thing that has stayed the same is the significance of backing workers and union rights.
As chair and vice-chair of the House and Senate Labor Committees, we are deeply dedicated to advancing progress and enhancing rights that all Delaware residents deserve. In recent years, we have focused on reinforcing the base of labor rights with the backing of unions and enacting essential legislation that will protect these rights for future generations.
This year, on January 1, 2025, our state achieved a significant milestone by introducing a minimum wage of $15 per hour. Increasing the minimum wage will help more families secure better pay and improved prospects. On January 1, 2026, we will celebrate another important step with the launch of Delaware’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Program.
In an ongoing initiative to attract and keep Delaware’s workforce, we have provided a 2% salary increase for all state merit employees. For the third consecutive year, we have maintained our focus on the education sector by offering a 2% raise. Our educators and classroom personnel have also received further increases, as advised by the Public Education Compensation Committee (PECC), moving closer to the goal of starting teacher salaries reaching $60,000.
With raises and a broad range of learning opportunities, including the Grow Your Own Educator Program, Teacher Academies, Education Apprenticeships, and more, Delaware has experienced the most significant increase in its education workforce when compared to other states from before the COVID-19 pandemic until today.
Through the State’s initiatives aimed at equipping future workers, we have kept moving forward with programs and organizations that position Delaware at the forefront of emerging technologies and opportunities for people of all ages. These initiatives include scholarships, tax breaks or credits, and training programs designed to help individuals acquire new skills in various fields such as healthcare, technology, education, trades, agriculture, and beyond.
We understand the significance of state investments for our workforce and economy. Through collaborations with organizations like the Council on Development Finance and the efforts of the Delaware Prosperity Partnership, it is crucial for the state to maintain a balance between workforce development and fostering innovative businesses.
During the first half of the 153rd General Assembly, we implemented several measures to enhance and strengthen worker safeguards. These safeguards involved progress in collective bargaining rights, such as mandating public employers to share details about employees in bargaining units with the unions that represent them, and establishing an alternative method for unit certification instead of the traditional process.
Standard process of the Public Employment Relations Board. We have also made efforts to simplify procedures for workers, including streamlining the electrical apprenticeship program and the workers’ compensation payment and medical reimbursement system.
As part of our continuous efforts to safeguard Delaware workers and ensure responsibility among all residents, we have implemented further measures to prevent the incorrect classification of employees. We have also increased the number of roles within the Department of Labor that necessitate criminal background screenings. Furthermore, we have maintained the community workforce agreement pilot programs across the state and mandated that specific projects at public universities incorporate a Project Labor Agreement/Community Workforce Agreement. These initiatives will include pre-project agreements outlining labor conditions, community advantages, and participation from underrepresented groups. We have also mandated labor peace agreements for employees in the newly established cannabis sector, which commenced recreational sales on August 1, 2025.
The base of our working class on this Labor Day in the First State is solid and growing stronger as salaries rise, benefits improve, protections increase, and opportunities expand for everyone in Delaware.
We will keep ensuring that labor rights within Delaware are maintained and strengthened for coming generations. By our ongoing efforts, we will continue to develop this foundation of rights, ensuring that no one is overlooked and that everyone has the opportunity to thrive in the future. The committed workers of Delaware deserve every chance for their hard work to yield positive results.
Rep. Ed Osienski, representing District 24, leads the House Labor Committee; Rep. Kim Williams, from District 19, serves as the vice-chair of the House Labor Committee; state Senator Bryan Townsend, who represents District 11, is the chair of the Senate Labor Committee; and state Senator Jack Walsh, from District 9, holds the position of vice-chair of the Senate Labor Committee.
This piece first was published in the Delaware News Journal:This Labor Day, Delaware’s workers continue to be vital for our future | Opinion
