Across the United States, workers enjoy the first Monday of September as their holiday.
Labor Day has become known as a day for family picnics and community parades—but do you know how Labor Day really started?
Labor Day was first officially recognized on this day in labor history the year was 1887.
At the request of union members and workers, several states had started discussing setting aside a “working man’s holiday.”
In 1882 the Central Labor Council of New York City held the first Labor Day Parade. That first parade saw some 10,000 workers proudly marching in the in the streets.
Five years later, on this day in labor history, Oregon became the very first state to officially declare such a working man’s holiday. Also that year Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York followed suit.
By 1894 a total of thirty states had passed legislation for a similar celebration of worker and their valuable contributions to society.
That same year the federal government declared the first Monday of September officially Labor Day.
Some critics in the labor movement have noted that Labor Day served as a more benign alternative to May Day.
May Day is considered a more radical worker’s holiday commemorating the 1892 Haymarket Martyr’s Massacre in Chicago and the struggle for the eight hour work day.
May Day is celebrated by workers through much of the world.
Recently May Day marches and protests have seen a resurgence in the United States, especially around issues of immigrants’ rights.
Whether workers gather in September or May, it is an important time to remember our shared history and our continued struggle.
United we bargain, Divided we beg
Labor History in 2:00 brought to you by the Illinois Labor History Society and The Rick Smith Show