What is Labor Day?

When we think of Labor Day, we think of cookouts and shopping for school supplies before school starts, but there is an actual story behind Labor Day and it’s a historical one worthy of learning about.  So let me tell you about the first Labor Day and why it’s a federal holiday now.

It was September 5, 1882, in a place called New York City when over 10,000 workers marched to the center of the city to listen to speeches in support of workers’ rights and enjoy the spirit of their fellow workers through food, dancing, music, and fireworks. This was the happier time gathering. However, there was another one on May 11, 1894, outside of Chicago Illinois where workers who ran the railroad went on strike halting travel, mail delivery, and goods throughout the country. Rioting and arson broke out not just in the outskirts of Chicago but in other major cities that held Railroad employees. What were they striking about you might ask, failure to increase wages and better working conditions. President Grover Cleveland had to send in federal troops to halt the strike. It was bloody and considered a negative stain on our country's labor history.

In the coming months, President Cleveland and others in Washington, DC rallied the Congressional representatives to create legislation to be introduced by Senator James Henderson Kyle of South Dakota known as S.730 proposing a Labor Day celebration on the first Monday in September each year. This was May 15, 1894.

According to the Library of Congress archives the following statement is what was stated in the Committee room while debating this new bill:

                “There can be no substantial objection to making one day in the year a national holiday for the benefit of labor. The labor organizations of the whole country, representing the great body of our artisan population, request it. They are the ones most interested. They desire it and should have it. If the farmers, manufacturers, and professional men are indifferent to the measure, or even oppose it, which there is no reason to believe, that still would constitute no good objection, for their work can be continued on holidays as well as on other days if they so desire it. Workingmen should have one day in the year peculiarly their own. Nor will their employers lose anything from it. Whatever makes a working man more of a man makes him more useful as a craftsman.”

On June 28^th, 1894 President Cleveland signed the bill in law proclaiming the first Monday of September as Labor Day in honor of the working class of America.

 Artist and Author Elizabeth Kilbride is a former political operative, author, scriptwriter, historian, and journalist. business professional, creative artist, and life coach consultant. Ms. Kilbride holds a Master's in Criminology and a BS in Business Management she stepped out of the loop for a while but is now back with a powerful opinion and voice in the direction of this country and our economy. As a life coach, she is available to counsel individuals to enjoy their dreams and a better life. Ms. Kilbride loves to travel, and photograph her surroundings and is also a gourmet cook who loves to garden and preserve food for the winter months.