What Does Labor Day Stand For?
On Tuesday, September 5th, 1882, workers and union leaders marched through the streets of New York City. The 10,000 participants were part of the country's first parade to honor workers and fight to improve poor labor conditions begun during the Industrial Revolution.
Other People Are Reading
-
Origins
-
The first parade in New York gave participants a chance to draw attention to the 12-hour days and 7-day work weeks that had become the norm. Festivities afterward were designed to give employees a day off with their spouses and children, who often suffered under the same conditions.
Reform
-
Activists and union leaders' efforts in New York gained momentum. Employees of the Pullman rail company joined in a 50,000-person strike that culminated in the suspension of rail service out of Chicago. Violent riots ensued after Grover Cleveland sent troops to stop the protest, bringing national attention to the labor movement.
-
Establishment of Labor Day
-
Despite the initial resistance to the labor movement by the Cleveland administration, Congress finally declared the first Monday of every September to be Labor Day in 1894, shortly after the Pullman incident.
Gratitude
-
Workers finally received official acknowledgment of their contributions to the nation's prosperity. The grueling days of hard labor just to pay for the basics, as well as the bloody fight for justice, had not been in vain.
Spirit of the Movement
-
In 1909, the American Federation of Labor declared the first Sunday of the month "Labor Sunday" as an educational opportunity to acknowledge the labor movement's spiritual dimension.
Modern Celebration
-
Its celebration date on the first Monday in September makes Labor Day convenient as a marker for the transition from summer to fall. However, in addition to parades, barbecues, and some much-needed rest, Labor Day addresses by union leaders, government officials, and others serve as reminders of the holiday's meaning.
-
