Labor Day: Appreciating the American workforce

When we think of Labor Day, most of us think of barbecues, picnics, and the beginning of a new school year. However, Labor Day is about more than just savoring the last few days of summer. Labor Day is a chance to directly acknowledge the contributions and accomplishments of the American workforce. While this day of observance is now deeply ingrained in modern society, making Labor Day a national holiday was a challenge, one that reflects the countless struggles that organized labor has endured throughout American history.

The very first Labor Day was observed on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City. The Central Labor Union organized this effort in New York with the American Federation of Labor. Even though workers had to give up a day’s pay to attend, more than 20,000 men and women filled the streets. Other states took notice, and by 1894, 30 states had made Labor Day a state holiday.

Labor Day was born amongst rising unrest over oppressive labor conditions. It may be hard to imagine now, but people regularly worked 12 hours a day, six days a week, in unsafe working conditions during the turn of the century. Employers often locked their workers in hot, crowded rooms, known as sweatshops, for extended periods without an opportunity for breaks. Children were not immune from this and were also exploited, and were often being paid less than their adult counterparts while being made to complete dangerous tasks. As a result of these conditions and the absence of any mechanism to push back against them, workers were frequently killed or injured on the job. Eventually, workers began to strike, demanding shorter workdays, safer conditions, and better pay. It was one of the most significant and most violent strikes that led to the creation of Labor Day.

In May of 1894, workers at the Pullman Train Car company in Chicago went on strike to protest wage cuts and long hours. The boycott spread to other states and crippled railroads nationwide. Over 125,000 workers across the country participated. Railroad service in more than 27 states came to a screeching halt. After several violent days, the National Guard was called in to break up the strike, and the boycott was crushed. Although a blow to the American Railway Union, President Grover Cleveland made Labor Day a national holiday on June 28, 1894, as a concession to the union leaders.

Samuel Gompers, the president of the American Federation of Labor, wrote in 1910, “…Of all the days celebrated for one cause or another, there is not one which stands so conspicuously for the social advancement of the common people as the first Monday in September of each recurring year—Labor Day.”

We have labor unions to thank for many of our most basic workplace rights. Without unions, we would not have weekends, the 40-hour workweek, the end of child labor, minimum wage, and employer-based health insurance. The sacrifices of our union leaders and labor activists transformed the way we work and live in modern society, making us stronger as a national community. The work of labor activists is never complete, and today union leaders continue to advocate for working people everywhere, especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We are stronger as a community when we have strong unions. This year, thank a union member, whether you are catching the sun at the beach or enjoying a hot dog at the family barbecue.