With Labor Day approaching, it’s with great pride that we honor the more than 42,000 members of our CalSTA team whose daily commitment lifts up all the people of our state and strengthens our transportation network. Labor Day is a day of rest, reflection and recognition of all workers’ contributions.
But unknown to many, Labor Day was actually born from protests.
In the late 1800s, during the peak of the Industrial Revolution, Americans often physically labored 12-hour days, seven days a week, just to barely scrape by. Children as young as five worked long hours in unsafe mills, factories and mines. Poor conditions eventually drove 10,000 workers to march through New York City demanding better hours and standards. Momentum grew, and in 1894 Congress made Labor Day a legal, national holiday.
September 5, 1882 – 10,000 workers took unpaid time to march from City Hall to Union Square in NYC demanding 8-hour workday, safer conditions and better labor standards.
Today, conditions have improved substantially, but our purpose in celebrating workers remains unchanged. While no single role is more important than another, some positions encounter risk more directly and more often than others. I want to highlight a specific sector of employees within our transportation community―our Caltrans Highway Workers and CHP Officers.
Caltrans highway workers serve Californians by keeping our roads safe, clear and maintained. These vital workers don’t even cross the minds of most travelers―until something goes wrong―but those in our industry know full well that highway workers are indispensable 365 days a year.
Shelley Pangman, an 11-year Superintendent of the Caltrans Gold Country Maintenance Area, began her 35-year Caltrans career as a seasonal equipment operator. She loves that her role helps people, often clearing treacherous, snow-covered roads. She finds it incredibly fulfilling to look back at a freshly cleared stretch of highway and see a drivable path where moments earlier snow buried the pavement.
Shelley’s message to travelers is simple: “Prepare!” Too often people don’t check the forecast or use tools like Caltrans QuickMap. And when roads are closed, don’t ignore or try to circumvent the closures. The safest approach, she says, is to respect closures, follow instructions and prepare before hitting the road.
Caltrans Snowplow on I-80
Jason Tipton, 15-year Caltrans employee and current Superintendent at Donner Pass Maintenance Area, is grateful for the opportunity to do critical work “with a team of amazing people.” He notes the privilege of leading efforts that serve people every day and the importance of keeping goods moving across the country.
Sharing Shelley’s commitment to safety, Jason recalls working on a project setting up visual guides on Interstate 80 when a vehicle traveling over 100 mph lost control and struck the Caltrans advance warning truck. A colleague was banged up, but, miraculously, no one was seriously injured. The incident left Jason with a lasting reminder: “Every worker out there is someone’s mom, dad, child, brother, sister. Put away all devices and slow down for us.”
Kingvale crew – Sierra Snowfighters
Caltrans Maintenance Yard
CHP Officers, too, take their public service to the next level. Officer Kerri Rivas has spent 19 years serving Californians across patrol duty, Governor and First Partner detail, human trafficking investigations and now recruitment. She underscores that “…the greatest risk to those working on our roads is being hit by a vehicle.”
Early in her career, while out of her patrol vehicle writing a ticket, she was nearly struck by a big rig. Her Field Training Officer pushed her out of the way just in time. Even though the truck wasn’t going over 20 mph and made no contact with the CHP vehicle, its extreme proximity blew out the windshield. She states, “Drivers need to be cognizant of what’s going on around them. Slow down and move over, these are people’s lives. There’s a reason the California Vehicle Code Section 21809 (the Move Over law) has been passed.”
CHP Officer Kerri Rivas
We tip our hard hats and campaign covers to these essential CalSTA team members. The jobs can be extraordinarily tough at times, but they step forward and get it done.
Labor Day is also a time to appreciate the leadership and collaboration that keep our transportation system going strong. A major thanks to Governor Newsom for his steadfast support of transportation safety and innovation, and to the labor unions and private contractors whose expertise and partnership help keep California moving as well.
To every member of our CalSTA family—Caltrans, Office of Traffic Safety, CHP, CA Transportation Commission, New Motor Vehicle Board, Board of Pilot Commissioners, DMV and the High-Speed Rail Authority—thank you. Nearly 40 million Californians and millions of visitors depend on your dedication and skill. Let’s all do our part to keep our roads, and those who work on them, safe.
Wishing a great Labor Day to all of you!