Labor Day is to the US what 1st of May is to
Malta. This year this federal holiday comes at a time when the US economy seems
to be picking up. With news of companies like GE, Lenovo and Apple in the
process of moving manufacturing back to the US, we sincerely hope that this
year’s Labor Day celebrations will mark the beginning of a period of economic
recovery during which workers will have decent jobs and their basic right to
work is fulfilled.
Labor Day was first proposed as a holiday in 1882. Although
it is not universally agreed as to who first suggested it, it came during a
time when workers typically worked a twelve hour day, seven days a week and
earned just enough money to live a basic lifestyle. Working conditions were
awful with no concern for the mental and physical safety of workers. Movies
such as Modern Times, Silkwood, Roger & Me, The Grapes of Wrath and Norma
Rae should help you appreciate what Labor Day is all about.
The first Labor Day march took place on September 5 1882 in
New York. The date was chosen because it was felt that there were no holidays
between July 4th and Thanksgiving. Workers first marched from City
Hall to Union Square and then spent an afternoon at Reservoir Park being
entertained and listening to speeches asking for an 8 hour day. Initially
workers would have had to take an unpaid day off to participate in the holiday.
Oregon was the first state to make it a holiday on February 21, 1887 and others
soon followed.
In 1894 workers at the Pullman Palace Car Company went on strike following a reduction in
wages. President Grover Cleveland sent 12,000 federal troops to Pullman, Chicago and violence erupted. A
number of workers died in the clashes that ensued. President Cleveland made Labor Day a federal holiday just six days
after the strike ended.
The first Monday
of September was retained rather than more widespread International Workers'
Day (May 1) because Cleveland was concerned that observance of the latter would
be associated with Communists.
Many families today
use Labor Day to mark the end of summer.
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