Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.
Through the years the nation gave increasing emphasis to Labor Day. The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and 1886. From these, a movement developed to secure state legislation. The first state bill was introduced into the New York legislature, but the first to become law was passed by Oregon on February 21, 1887. During the year four more states — Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York — created the Labor Day holiday by legislative enactment. By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 other states had adopted the holiday in honor of workers, and on June 28 of that year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.
More than 100 years after the first Labor Day observance, there is still some doubt as to who first proposed the holiday for workers.
Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those “who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold.”
But Peter McGuire’s place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged. Many believe that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. What is clear is that the Central Labor Union adopted a Labor Day proposal and appointed a committee to plan a demonstration and picnic.
The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.
In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a “workingmen’s holiday” on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.
The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take was outlined in the first proposal of the holiday — a street parade to exhibit to the public “the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations” of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.
The character of the Labor Day celebration has undergone a change in recent years, especially in large industrial centers where mass displays and huge parades have proved a problem. This change, however, is more a shift in emphasis and medium of expression. Labor Day addresses by leading union officials, industrialists, educators, clerics and government officials are given wide coverage in newspapers, radio, and television.
The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation’s strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.
Fifty years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson launched a series of programs aimed at restoring our nation’s fundamental promise of equality and opportunity. The Economic Opportunity Act, signed on Aug. 20 of 1964 as part of President Lyndon Johnson’s “War on Poverty,” established the Job Corps, a residential education and training program for disadvantaged young people ages 16-24. Today, nearly 2.7 million students have benefited from the Job Corps. At 125 centers in 48 states, students today learn the skills necessary to succeed in good jobs with high-growth potential in a dynamic economy. Graduates learn career skills in more than 100 areas – from automotive maintenance to information technology, from health care to hospitality, from construction to IT. Some have become doctors, judges and entertainment executives. All across the country, Job Corps centers are celebrating this historic milestone with demonstrations, open houses, local proclamations, and other events. We’re also sharing stories from some of the people whose lives have been most deeply transformed by the program on our blog.
Raising the minimum wage
The cost of living has increased significantly over the past five years but the federal minimum wage hasn’t. Raising it to $10.10 would benefit 28 million Americans, helping them better provide for themselves and their families. Right now, too many people are working harder but falling further behind just trying to make ends meet. We believe an honest day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay and will continue to make the case for a higher minimum wage.
Modernizing overtime protections
The Fair Labor Standards Act’s wage protections are intended to apply to most workers, including overtime pay for more than 40 hours of work per week. Unfortunately, the threshold for who qualifies for overtime pay hasn’t kept up with our modern economy. Under the current rules, you may not qualify for overtime even if you’re under the poverty line. That’s why we’re modernizing the rules to reward hard work and give more people a better chance of realizing their dreams.
Investing in apprenticeships
Registered apprenticeship programs are a win-win: they train workers for in-demand fields while providing a paycheck, and they help companies develop a skilled, loyal workforce. But apprenticeships have been undervalued in America for several decades and a popular myth persists that they’re only for traditional occupations. New grants will help us invest in and grow apprenticeships across the country.
Reinvigorating the workforce system
In recent years, more than 20 million people annually have turned to federal programs for basic education, job training and employment services. The recently signed Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act is a critical step toward helping workers and employers succeed in the 21st century economy. Together with our federal partners and communities nationwide, we will lead the road ahead.
Ensuring fair pay and safe workplaces
The federal government shouldn’t do business with companies that violate labor laws and exploit their workers. If you work hard, take responsibility and play by the rules, you deserve a fair shot at getting ahead. This is true for both workers and employers. We’ll be implementing a new executive order designed to protect employees, responsible businesses and taxpayers.
This is courtesy of www.dol.gov
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