Cape Fear News Network

The History of Labor Day

CFNN Reporter: Karina Phair Ever wonder about why we began celebrating everyone’s favorite fall holiday? Well wonder no more! I’ve looked into it and found some interesting facts about the first Monday in September. Inspired by The Haymarket Riot, Labor Day is commemorated on the first Monday in September. It was officially declared to be…

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CFNN Reporter: Karina Phair

Ever wonder about why we began celebrating everyone’s favorite fall holiday? Well wonder no more! I’ve looked into it and found some interesting facts about the first Monday in September.

Inspired by The Haymarket Riot, Labor Day is commemorated on the first Monday in September. It was officially declared to be a federal holiday by President Grover Cleveland on June 28, 1894.

The first unofficial Labor Day was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882. Majority of the Central Labor Union workers went into Central New York City to march in the first Labor Day Parade.

For some young citizens, this holiday marks the end of summer and the beginning of a new school year.

The original creator has yet to be credited for the holiday idea, but there have been some popular speculations among different crowds.

Reported by the U.S Department of Labor (www.dol.gov), Some believe that Peter J. McGuire, the American Confederation of Labor’s cofounder, was the first to suggest the break for the workers of the Labor Force. 

Others beg to differ on this very opinionated statement, saying that Matthew Maguire, a politician and a well-known secretary of the Central Labor Union, first projected this idea to the public.

There were several riots and protests prior to making the holiday official, causing an uproar between the federal system and the people. 

Majority of the labor force felt as if their lives at home were severely affected by the grueling, long hours given to them by their employers. 

According to statistics on Outrun Change (outrunchange.com), Labor Union Workers were slaving away at jobs for at least 13 hours a day, only receiving minimum wage as their bi-weekly paycheck.

The conditions of work were terrible, cooped up in poorly ventilated areas that were filled with smog and airborne diseases.

This caused a large number of factory workers to lose their limbs in machines and contract other fatal diseases which killed them from the inside out.

During the decade prior to the year 1894, labor union workers would take unpaid leave to march in their city’s streets. 

According to History.com, The Pullman Strike and The Haymarket Riot were the two most important events that happened before the official declaration of Labor Day.

There was bloodshed in the Pullman Strike as a result of the boycott and reduced train car production. 

The violent outbreak dispersed into the streets where train cars were crashed, overturned, and burned.

Taking place on May 11, 1894, the Pullman strike ceased with a total of over 30 casualties and a lot of wrecked company property.

According to Illinois Labor History, The Haymarket Riot, otherwise known as the Haymarket Affair, happened approximately 8 years before the protest that was previously mentioned.

It took place on May 1, of the year 1886. This was a much more peaceful protest with about 80,000 workers marching and chanting in the streets.

“Eight Hours for Work, Eight Hours for Rest, Eight Hours for What We Will!” was the people’s slogan and it ended up working eventually.

Labor Day stands for and will forever be a symbol of hard work and people’s dedication to their craft, but a reminder that we are all humans who need rest.

The celebration of Labor Day will always be an important part of the American Citizens’ history. A time for a break, and a time to rest, and a time to recognize.

To learn more about the history of Labor Day, click on the following links:

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