Why Celebrate Labor Day?
Posted: Friday, August 25, 2006
by Sharon Lauer
Simply The Best Baskets
To many Americans Labor Day is a celebration of the last long weekend of summer. We celebrate with our barbecues and fishing trips and enjoy one last blast before fall becomes a reality. Most people don’t realize the very real struggle in the roots of this holiday and the beliefs, history and courage that we should be honoring.
Labor Day is a creation of the labor movement in America at a time when labor was not valued and not honored. Sweathouses were prevalent and workers were often mistreated and devalued. Unions were formed to protect workers and out of these unions came the call for a day dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. They called for one day a year in tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength and prosperity of their country.
Two men stand at the forefront of the movement to create a nationally recognized day for laborers. Peter J McGuire, an Irish American cabinetmaker and general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor first suggested a day to honor America’s workers in May 1882. "Let us have a festive day during which a parade through the streets of the city would permit public tribute to American Industry".
Matthew Maguire, a machinist and later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, NJ, proposed the holiday later in that same year. The Central Labor Union adopted his proposal and the first Labor Day was celebrated on September 5, 1883.
By the late 1880’s other labor organizations began lobbying their state governments for recognition of Labor Day as an official state holiday. The first state to declare the holiday a state holiday by law was Oregon on February 21, 1887. That same year Colorado, New York, Massachusetts and New Jersey also enacted such laws. Other states continued to recognize the holiday in their legislatures.
A pivotal event in 1894 would help Labor Day become a nationally recognized holiday. The Pullman Company, manufacturer of sleeping cars for passenger trains, was feeling the strain of a failing economy. It had laid-off many of its employees while cutting the wages of those still employed by the company. In retaliation for what they viewed as unfair treatment, the workers walked out and production came to a standstill. In sympathy to their cause, The American Railway Union, led by Eugene V. Debs refused to haul railroad cars made by the company. All railroads stopped moving as a result. When the mail service was disrupted, it became a national issue and the president was called upon to intervene.
Grover Cleveland, a long time foe of organized labor, declared the strike a federal crime and ordered the striking laborers back to work. When the ARU refused, 12,000 federal troops were deployed to break the strike. Violence erupted, riots ensued and in the end, 2 men were killed and their leaders were jailed. The strike was over, but the American citizen's opinion of Cleveland would suffer. Protests began over his harsh methods of dealing with the struggling workers and their appeasement became a top political priority.
1894 was an election year. Hoping to win back public favor Cleveland signed the bill making Labor Day a nationally recognized holiday. He was not reelected.
Unions changed the fate of the American worker. At a time when workers were devalued and mistreated they provided a brotherhood to stand against big industry. In celebration of Labor Day we celebrate those that fought for a better life while working hard and pursuing their American dream. This Labor Day, honor them in your festivities. Thank them for their perseverance in pursuit of fair treatment and the benefits you now enjoy because of their sacrifices.
Sharon Lauer is the marketing director for www.simplythebestbaskets.com.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Sharon a very good article. I thought I'd extract what you wrote in my reply and add my opinion. tion of the labor movement in America at a time when labor was not valued and not honored. Sweathouses were prevalent and workers were often mistreated and devalued". I suspect you are talking about today's environment? I'm sorry but as one looks around American labor today many will tell you who are unemployed and working for low wages that this Holiday should not become a celebration any longer but a statemtment for what was and is lost. It shouold ebcome a protest og what has happened to America. That would honor those who fought so hard and long for labor in this nation and are now possibly turning in their graves.
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