When we think of Labor Day weekend, we often do not think about the history behind it or why we celebrate it. Many of us might think of Labor Day as another fun three day weekend, but Labor Day became a federal holiday because American workers chose to be vocal about the importance of fair treatment in the workplace.
Monday, September 6, 2021, we will celebrate the federal holiday of Labor Day. For many Americans, Labor Day is a holiday spent with family at parades, barbeques, and picnics to acknowledge the end of the summer season and the start of the back-to-school season. However, many Americans might not know why we celebrate Labor Day or why we like to recognize the American public workforce each year. Labor Day is more than fun in the sun and good sale events. Labor Day is an annual holiday that celebrates American workers for their contributions and achievements throughout the year.
Labor Day originated during the height of the Industrial Revolution, where the average worker worked approximately 12 hours a day, seven days a week. The average employee was employed in a factory with harsh and unsafe working conditions to make an average living. During the Industrial Revolution, workers often did not receive any benefits or breaks during their time at work. Also, during this time in certain parts of the country, children as young as five years old were employed and worked in unsafe conditions and earned fewer wages than their adult counterparts.
People of all ages and backgrounds, primarily those who migrated to America from other countries or the rural south, worked in such harsh environments. As the Industrial Revolution began to have a more rapid expansion, manufacturing laborers became more expressive about their working conditions. The first labor unions appeared in the 1880s demanding better wages and working hours. On September 5, 1882, workers took uncompensated time off to march to Union Square in New York City, creating the first Labor Day parade in United States history. This event highlighted the importance of the American worker for U.S economic expansion, and soon workers in other parts of the nation also started to demand recognition and better working conditions.
Labor Day is a holiday that all Americans can celebrate with pride because those who came before made sure that human rights are also in the workplace. Labor Day also is a day to remember what is possible when people work together for the common good. We can celebrate this weekend as a way to pay homage to those who came before us.
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