Happy Labor Day!
But what’s it really all about?
- Labor Day takes place on the first Monday in September.
- It’s a celebration of the social and economic achievements of the American labor movement.
- The first Labor Day was held in New York City in 1882 by the Central Labor Union. Over 10,000 people marched in solidarity as “a day of the people.”
- Oregon became the first state to officially declare Labor Day a holiday in 1887.
- Following the deaths of 30 workers and injuries of 57 at the hands of the U.S. military during the Pullman Strike of 1894, Congress unanimously voted to approve legislation that made Labor Day a national holiday.
- In Canada Labour Day also takes place on September 1st, and in many other countries a similar holiday takes place on May 1st.