Category: Scrapbook

Here in Arkansas, we are witnessing a coordinated effort to devalue our profession and undermine public education and higher education, the very cornerstone of our democracy.

Hershel Hartford, Local 965 president

More than 50 members of several Northwest Arkansas union locals, of Indivisible NWA, the Washington County Democratic Party, NWA Democratic Socialists of America, supporters of workers and a fair number of children attended the annual Labor Day picnic of UA-Fayetteville Education Association and the Northwest Arkansas Labor Council (AFL-CIO) Monday evening, Sept. 1, 2025, at Fayetteville’s Veterans Memorial Park.

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The 2025 Labor Day picnic welcome and address from Hershel Hartford, president, UA-Fayetteville Education Association / Local 965 on Sept. 1 at Veterans Memorial Park:

Hello, everyone! It’s absolutely fantastic to see all of you here today. I want to extend a special welcome and heartfelt thanks to our partners in solidarity: The Northwest Arkansas Labor Council AFL-CIO, the DSA, and NWA Indivisible. It’s a true honor to be with you as we break bread and build community at our annual Labor Day picnic.

Today is a day of rest, but let’s be clear: it is not a day to rest from our purpose. This day represents a hard-won victory, achieved through the courage and sacrifice of those who came before us — people who marched, organized, and fought for the rights we often take for granted: the 40-hour workweek, workplace safety and the fundamental right to have a voice.

We gather today not just to honor that legacy as a historical lesson but to recognize it as a living inheritance that we are duty-bound to protect and expand. And make no mistake — this inheritance is more critical now than ever. To quote Franklin Delano Roosevelt, “Labor Day symbolizes our determination to achieve economic freedom for the average worker, which will give their political freedom reality.”

Right now, we find ourselves in a moment of intense pressure. Economically, inflation and the rising cost of living are eating away at our salaries, making it increasingly difficult for dedicated professionals to build a life in the communities they serve. Socially, we are in a nation grappling with profound questions of equity and justice, struggles that have always been deeply intertwined with the labor movement’s pursuit of fairness and dignity.

Politically, here in Arkansas, we are witnessing a coordinated effort to devalue our profession and undermine public education and higher education, the very cornerstone of our democracy. When tenure is threatened, when curricula are politicized and when resources are siphoned away from public institutions, it’s not just our jobs on the line — it’s our future.

This is where our union, the UA Fayetteville Education Association / Local 965 of the AEA and NEA, becomes our collective strength. We are the first line of defense for academic freedom. We are the unified voice demanding fair compensation and benefits that recognize our expertise. We are the community that rallies around each other when challenges seem insurmountable.

The pioneers of the labor movement did not win their battles in isolation. They triumphed by joining hands and demanding better. Today, their spirit is alive and well in us.

So today, we do more than celebrate. We send a powerful message to our local, state, and national leaders, as well as every candidate running for office: we are watching, we are organizing, and we are voting. We call upon you to stand with labor. Stand with educators. Stand for fair wages, the right to organize, and a public education system that is fully funded and free from political meddling. Your support must translate into action—not just words!

Let’s leave here today with a renewed sense of purpose. Let’s remember that our work—as educators, as union members, and as allies in the fight for justice—is not just important; it’s essential. Let’s stand together, prepared for the battles ahead, to ensure that our university, our community, and our state continue to be places of opportunity, innovation, and justice for all.

Thank you, and happy Labor Day!

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These organizers, candidates and elected officials broke bread with area workers and gave brief speeches.

Our strength lies in our unity — our ability to come together, organize, educate and advocate.

Local 965 President Hershel Hartford

More than 50 people enjoyed burgers, hot dogs and fixin’s at Thursday’s May Day / Workers’ Day / National Day of Action 2025 picnic at Veterans Memorial Park hosted by UA-Fayetteville Education Association / Local 965 and the Northwest Arkansas Labor Council (AFL-CIO). The assembled heard from state Rep. Denise Firmin Garner, D-Fayetteville, state Rep. Diana Gonzales Worthen, D-Springdale, and Fayetteville Mayor Molly Rawn. Preceding them was 965 President Hershel Hartford with the following:

National Day of Action

Dear Friends, Fellow Workers and Esteemed Guests,

Today, as we gather here in celebration of International Workers’ Day, we honor the vital contributions of every worker who has fought and continues to fight for justice, equality and the dignity that all labor deserves. This picnic is not merely a social gathering — it is a reaffirmation of our commitment to the values that unite us, particularly in these challenging times.

As we reflect on the current climate — not only in Arkansas but across our nation — we must acknowledge the persistent threats to our fundamental rights and the very fabric of our democracy. The administration’s ongoing attacks on K-12 education and higher education put our future at stake. These are not just institutions, they are the bedrock of our society, nurturing knowledge, critical thinking and informed citizens. We cannot allow political agendas to jeopardize our children’s education, nor can we stand by as workers face hostility and oppression that denies them fair treatment, respect and opportunity.

The rights of workers, immigrants and marginalized communities are continually under siege. We have witnessed policies that erode due process, undermining the very principles that safeguard our liberties. But let us remember, the struggle for justice and truth is never an easy path, nor a short one. History tells us that every victory, every inch of progress, has been hard-fought and earned through the relentless dedication of people like you —passionate, brave, and unyielding in the face of adversity.

Today, I urge each and every one of you to remain active and vigilant. It is our collective responsibility to advocate for policy changes that enhance the rights of all workers. In this ongoing struggle, we must stand together, not just for our own rights but for the rights of all our brothers and sisters — those who toil in the shadows, those who come from different nations seeking a better life and those who dare to dream of a brighter future for their children.

Let us use our voices and our votes to protect public education and uphold the right to a quality education for every child. Let us demand fair labor practices that respect the dignity of our work and ensure a living wage for all. Let us extend our solidarity to immigrant communities who enrich our lives and our workforce. Together, we can build coalitions that amplify our causes and challenge the forces that seek to divide us.

As we stand at this crossroads, we have the opportunity to redefine what justice, truth and democracy mean for our society. We must harness our collective power to create a future where freedom is not merely a promise, but a reality for everyone. Our strength lies in our unity — our ability to come together, organize, educate and advocate.

So, let us celebrate our achievements, but let us also recommit ourselves to the work that lies ahead. Let every action we take echo with the clarity of our purpose: to protect and advance the rights of every worker, to defend our democratic institutions and to ensure a just and equitable society for generations to come.

Together, we rise. Together, we claim our future. Together, we will not be silenced. 

Thank you for being here today. Thank you for your continued activism. Let’s celebrate our strength and prepare for the work ahead. Happy May Day!

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Staff Appreciation Picnic

Then on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, representatives of Local 965 and the Arkansas Education Association ran a booth on the Fayetteville UA campus at the well-attended annual Staff Appreciation Picnic hosted by the Staff Senate.