WHY: Labor Day recognizes workers’ contributions to American and Canadian strength, prosperity, economy, and well-being, and the labor movements that raised our standards of living and our productivity.
HISTORY: During the Industrial Revolution in the 1880s, average workers toiled 12-hour days, 7 days a week to eke out a living. Children worked on farms, factories, mills and mines at a fraction of adult wages. Working conditions were harsh, unsafe and unsanitary. September 2, 1882 was the first Labor Day parade, when 10,000-20,000 workers took unpaid time off for a peaceful “working man’s holiday” to raise awareness of the problem. During the next 12 years, strikes and unrest culminated in violence when Pullman railroad lowered wages, but not rents in their “company town housing”.
In 1894, The US Congress passed legislation to recognize the first Monday in September as a Federal holiday and the 8-hour workday went into effect following a 300,000 worker strike.
Labor Unions grew and protested to improve working conditions, hours and pay. During the past four years, jobs increased 259,000 a month and unemployment dropped to 3.6%. Of the 167.7 million workers in the USA, almost 10% belong to Labor Unions, representing teachers, service employees, truck and delivery drivers, food and grocery employees, auto and steel manufacturing employees, firefighters and EMS, and construction workers. While some employers resist collective bargaining and unionization of their employees, labor unions have helped improve wages, hours and benefits for workers who make their employers more profitable.
TODAY: As we enjoy Labor Day parades and picnics on the last holiday before school resumes, let’s remember to honor our brave workers who stood up for better working conditions such as 5-day work weeks, 8-hour days, overtime, vacation time, sick days, family leave, and safe workplaces.
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By Linda Lindquist, September 2, 2024
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