Labor Day
What is Labor Day? While most of us are happy to get the day off or go to a parade or cookout, many of us don't know the history behind the holiday.
On the first Monday of September, the United States celebrates Labor Day.
Labor Day is the creation of the labor movement dedicated to the achievements of American workers. It is a national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.
The first Labor Day parade was held September 5th, 1882 in New York City to celebrate the strength of trade and labor organizations, and to host a festival for workers' families. There are conflicting theories as to who created the holiday. Some say that it was Peter J. McGuire of the American Federation of Labor, but others argue it was Matthew Maguire who proposed the holiday while serving as the secretary of the Central Labor Union of New York.
The celebration became an unofficial annual affair in New York City held on the first Monday of September. Other states and cities followed by 1885, after some urging from the Central Labor Union.
Labor Day's history isn't all parades and parties. Strikes and riots also played a huge role, like Chicago's Haymarket riot. The Haymarket riot left eight people dead, and was a major setback for the organized labor movement in America.
After the Pullman Strike in 1894, which was a nationwide railway strike, President Grover Cleveland extended an olive branch to unions, and designated Labor Day a federal holiday. But, rather than celebrate the holiday on International Workers' Day on May 1, which has Communist ties and was just days before the anniversary of the Haymarket riot, President Cleveland went with a date designated by McGuire ... or Maguire.
Today, Labor Day signals the start of the school year, and storewide sales and discounts. Ironically, because of those sales, many store employees are forced to not only work on Labor Day, but work extended hours. Hardly seems fair, does it?
Perhaps we should return to the original intent for Labor Day, which was to recognize the achievements of American workers. I for one could survive without a store being open. Unfortunately there are certain places, such as hospitals, that cannot close down for the day. As we go about celebrating with parades and cookouts, let's remember and honor those working on this holiday.
Labor Day - remembering the hard workers of the past who built our country, and the hard working Americans today.
On the first Monday of September, the United States celebrates Labor Day.
Labor Day is the creation of the labor movement dedicated to the achievements of American workers. It is a national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.
The first Labor Day parade was held September 5th, 1882 in New York City to celebrate the strength of trade and labor organizations, and to host a festival for workers' families. There are conflicting theories as to who created the holiday. Some say that it was Peter J. McGuire of the American Federation of Labor, but others argue it was Matthew Maguire who proposed the holiday while serving as the secretary of the Central Labor Union of New York.
The celebration became an unofficial annual affair in New York City held on the first Monday of September. Other states and cities followed by 1885, after some urging from the Central Labor Union.
Labor Day's history isn't all parades and parties. Strikes and riots also played a huge role, like Chicago's Haymarket riot. The Haymarket riot left eight people dead, and was a major setback for the organized labor movement in America.
After the Pullman Strike in 1894, which was a nationwide railway strike, President Grover Cleveland extended an olive branch to unions, and designated Labor Day a federal holiday. But, rather than celebrate the holiday on International Workers' Day on May 1, which has Communist ties and was just days before the anniversary of the Haymarket riot, President Cleveland went with a date designated by McGuire ... or Maguire.
Today, Labor Day signals the start of the school year, and storewide sales and discounts. Ironically, because of those sales, many store employees are forced to not only work on Labor Day, but work extended hours. Hardly seems fair, does it?
Perhaps we should return to the original intent for Labor Day, which was to recognize the achievements of American workers. I for one could survive without a store being open. Unfortunately there are certain places, such as hospitals, that cannot close down for the day. As we go about celebrating with parades and cookouts, let's remember and honor those working on this holiday.
Labor Day - remembering the hard workers of the past who built our country, and the hard working Americans today.
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