Labor Day Celebrates American Workers
Monday, September 7, 2020, is Labor Day. Each year we designate the day to remember the achievements and contributions that American workers have made to the country. The holiday was founded in the late 19th century by the labor movement. In 1894, it became a federal holiday. Additionally, it is a traditional symbol for the last days of summer and the start of a new school year. It is commonly celebrated (in non-pandemic years) with parades, parties, and sports events.
History of the Celebration
This yearly celebration of American workers and their accomplishments has its origins in some of the most dismal chapters in the history of American labor.
The late 1800s were the peak of the Industrial Revolution in American. At that time in the United States, the average worker toiled seven days a week, 12-hour days just to maintain a basic standard of living. Some states had prohibitions against child labor, but there were many kids as young as five years old working in mines, factories, and mills throughout the country. The children were paid a fraction of what adults were paid.
Additionally, working conditions were often extremely unsafe, especially for recent immigrants and the desperately poor. Many workplaces provided unsanitary conditions, no access to fresh air, and no rest breaks.
Manufacturing Economy Grows Along with Unrest
Gradually, manufacturing began to overtake agriculture as the main source of American employment. While that change took place, labor unions became more vocal and prominent. The unions organized strikes and rallies in protest of unsafe and poor working conditions. The protests compelled employers to negotiate pay and working hours.
Some of the labor protests and rallies turned violent. During the Haymarket Riot of 1886, several workers were killed along with a number of Chicago police officers. Other events were the genesis of traditions that survive to this day. September 5, 1882, was the date that approximately 10,000 laborers took time off (unpaid) to march to Union Square in New York City from City Hall. This became known as the first U.S. Labor Day parade.
Nationwide, the concept of a “workingmen’s holiday” spread across the nation. It would not be legalized by Congress until 1894 after employees of Chicago’s Pullman Palace Car Company engaged in a strike in protest of the termination of union representatives and wage cuts. In response to the strike, the American Railroad Union urged a boycott of all Pullman railway cars. This disabled railroad traffic all over the country. Federal troops were dispatched to Chicago to break the Pullman strike, and this action sparked a wave of rioting during which more than a dozen laborers lost their lives.
The Creation of Labor Day
Following the rioting, death, and widespread unrest, Congress approved an act that made Labor Day a legal holiday within the territories and the District of Columbia. This was an attempt to repair the relationship with U.S. workers. The act was signed into law by Grover Cleveland, who was the U.S. President at that time.
While it is not clear who exactly created the holiday, Peter McGuire, cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, is often credited. Others give the honor to Matthew Maguire, a Central Labor Union secretary.
Nationwide Celebrations on Labor Day
Across the United States, Labor Day continues to be celebrated on the first Monday in September. It represents the unofficial end of summer and the beginning of the new school year. Families and friends gather for barbeques, picnics, parades, and fireworks. Amidst the parties, it is easy to lose sight of the meaning of the holiday. As we appreciate our weekends, sanitary workspaces, and reasonable work hours, we should remember that those rights came at a cost. Throughout history, rioting, unrest, and lost lives have often paved the way for necessary change.
Here is a YouTube video posted by The History Channel, further explaining the origins of Labor Day.
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Photo: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/labor-day-usa-work-labor-day-1628502/
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