Once the school year is in full swing, many of us look forward to enjoying the three-day weekend in early September known as Labor Day. However, many, including myself, do not know the history behind why we celebrate this day. According to the History.com article, “Labor Day 2024,” this holiday “pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers.” This celebration was a result of the “labor movement” of the late 19th century and became an official federal holiday in 1894.
Labor Day has been the first Monday of September for the past 130 years. The celebration originated during one of the darkest chapters of America’s labor history. It was during the late 1800s, during the climax of the Industrial Revolution, American workers averaged 12-hour days, seven days a week, regularly. Despite restrictions in some states, children from as young as five to six years old also worked such hours in mills and factories across the country. Many of these workers faced horrific working conditions, with inadequate breaks or sufficient clean air or access to sanitation facilities.
As labor unions began to pop up across the country, workers became more vocal about problematic working conditions and rallied together to renegotiate sufficient pay and clean working conditions. While some of the events where workers united turned violent, one of the events led to a long-standing tradition. “On September 5, 1882, 10,000 workers took unpaid time off to march from City Hall to Union Square in New York City, holding the first Labor Day parade in U.S. history,” the article stated.
According to the article, “The History of Labor Day,” by Investopedia writer Ronni Sandroff, “Tens of thousands of labor union members – bricklayers, jewelers, typographers, dress and cloak makers, and many other tradespeople – took unpaid leave and marched with their locals. The day culminated in picnics, speeches, fireworks and dancing.” This parade became synonymous with the activities that take place more than 130 years later during the long weekend. However, this holiday did not become official for more than a decade.
It took 12 years for Congress to recognize the “workingmen’s holiday,” and it came after a series of deadly riots. “On May 11, 1894, employees of the Pullman Palace Car Company in Chicago went on strike to protest wage cuts and the firing of union representatives,” the article revealed. Afterwards, on June 26th, the American Railroad Union called for a boycott of all Pullman railway cars, which crippled railroad traffic nationwide. To stop this strike, the federal government dispatched troops to Chicago which unleashed a tidal wave of riots that killed more than a dozen workers.
Finally, to repair the broken ties with American workers, Congress passed an act making Labor Day a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and surrounding territories. By 1894, 23 states had adopted the holiday, and on June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed a law making the first Monday in September of each year a national holiday. While President Cleveland is credited for signing off on this holiday, the identity of the true founder of Labor Day, was a mystery for more than a century. Today, “many credit Peter J. McGuire, cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, while others have suggested that Matthew Maguire, a secretary of the Central Labor Union, first proposed the holiday.”
Today, there are countless celebrations that take place across the country to celebrate Labor Day for those interested in spending time with their loved ones through hosting barbecues or going on a getaway trip. However, many cities still offer large Labor Day celebrations and parades. According to the Book.com website article, “Top 5 Cities to celebrate Labor Day weekend,” the city this celebration first originated in, New York City, is by far the best place to visit during this long weekend. In NYC, there is a range of cultural events to take part in. From the “West Indian Day Carnival or Parade (which takes place on Labor Day itself),” to the “Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit – a free showcase exhibiting the work of local artists,” there is something fun for everyone to participate in. Other notable cities include Atlanta, GA, Chicago, IL, Los Angeles, CA and Portland, OR.
The only thing that stopped Labor Day festivities was the COVID-19 pandemic. From 2020 through 2022, many parades were not held. However, they resumed in many cities in 2022. Today, union membership is on the rise after decades of decline. Many believe this is due to the impact of the pandemic on daily workers, as well as a tight labor market in 2022. Many workers are seeking better pay and working conditions, including employees at Amazon, Starbucks and Apple facilities. In the end, this holiday is a fantastic one to take a moment to pause and thank the day-to-day diligent workers around us all.
