The History Behind Labor Day

Labor Day, recognized annually on the first Monday of September, is a national tribute to the contributions made by American workers to the strength, prosperity and well-being of our country.

According to the United States Department of Labor website, the first Labor Day actually took place back on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 1882 in New York City and was created by the Central Labor Union. On this day in 1882, in New York City, unions joined together and planned a parade of unions and massive picnic. Over 20,000 tickets were sold to this event and the proceeds benefited the local unions that sold them.  Workers participating in this event lost a day’s wage and at first there were only a handful of parade walkers, however as the parade moved on bands of workers joined in and by the time they reached Wendel’s Elm Park it is estimated that over 10,000 people were marching in support of the workers. The newspapers reporting on the event at that time declared it “a day of the people.”

 The Union urged similar organizations across the U.S. to follow their example and celebrate a “workingman’s holiday” on this particular date. With the growth of labor organizations the idea spread and in 1885 Labor Day was recognized in many industrial cities across the country.

The first state law to recognize Labor Day was passed in Oregon on Feb. 21, 1887. By the year 1894 twenty-three states had adopted this holiday to honor workers and by June 28 of that same year Congress passed an act that made the first Monday of September a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.

The activities ensued to observe and celebrate Labor Day were actually outlined in the first proposal of the holiday. These activities included a street parade followed by a festival for the enjoyment of workers and their families. Speeches by prominent figures were introduced later and a resolution by the American Federation of Labor Convention of 1909 adopted the Sunday before Labor Day as Labor Sunday, a day dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspect of the labor movement.

For more information on Labor Day in the United States visit the United States Department of Labor website.