Labor Day in the United States is celebrated annually on the first Monday of September, with the 2024 observance taking place on September 2. The holiday traces its origins to the 19th-century labor movement, a period when American workers faced long hours, low wages, and unsafe working conditions.
As labor unions and activists fought for better treatment during the Industrial Revolution, the idea of dedicating a holiday to recognize the contributions of trade and labor unions began to gain support, according to History.com.
Today, Labor Day is marked by parades, parties, and community gatherings across the country, reflecting the traditions established in the holiday's early years. As noted by the U.S. Department of Labor, the day also often includes speeches from elected officials and community leaders, emphasizing its economic and civic importance.
Origins of Labor Day
The concept of Labor Day is credited to two figures: Peter J. McGuire and Matthew Maguire, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Peter J. McGuire, co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, is traditionally recognized as the person who first proposed the holiday in 1882. However, recent research suggests that machinist Matthew Maguire, who was the secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York, may have also proposed the idea that same year.
Regardless of its origin, Labor Day quickly gained traction among labor activists and was adopted by various states well before it became a federal holiday. The first Labor Day celebration took place in New York City in 1882, organized by the Central Labor Union. On that day, 10,000 workers took unpaid leave to march from City Hall to Union Square, as reported by History.com.
While New York was the first state to introduce a bill to recognize Labor Day, Oregon became the first state to pass such a law in 1887, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. By 1894, 32 states had officially adopted the holiday.
Federal Recognition of Labor Day
Labor Day became a national holiday in 1894 when President Grover Cleveland signed a law passed by Congress designating the first Monday in September as a holiday for workers.
This federal recognition followed a period of significant unrest among workers and labor activists, which brought attention to workers' rights nationwide. In May 1894, employees of the Pullman Palace Car Company in Chicago went on strike to protest wage cuts and the dismissal of union representatives, as noted by History.com. The federal government intervened in June, sending troops to Chicago to suppress a boycott of Pullman railway cars led by labor activist Eugene V. Debs, which resulted in violent riots.
In response to these events, Congress quickly passed legislation making Labor Day a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories, which President Cleveland signed into law on June 28, 1894.
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