HAPPY LABOUR DAY!!! - How Did It All Start?
Happy Labour Day to all! It is the last weekend for many of our children before they enter a new school year, and a deserved holiday for all of us that worked through a tiring summer. Highways are packed, beaches are full and barbecues are ablaze with tasty delicacies as we say goodbye to our summer holiday season.
This morning, my eldest daughter asked me, “What is Labour Day and how did it become a holiday?” I knew enough to satisfy her curiosity, but instantly grabbed my smartphone to fine-tune my understanding of our history.
Labour Day was created in 1894 by the labour movement in the United States. It is an annual celebration of workers and their accomplishments. The late 1800’s was a time in the Industrial Revolution when manufacturing drove into full momentum and replaced agriculture as the top revenue producing industry. People often worked 12 hour+ days in unsafe conditions. Kids as young as 5 years old were a common sight in factories, mills and mines across the country.
Unsafe working conditions, lack of breaks, etc. led to strikes and violent riots in cities across America. Employees felt underappreciated and morale was at an all-time low. As Labour Unions generated a national uproar, company owners and the government knew there needed to be changes that offered proper respect for working population.
Peter J. McGuire (American Federation of Labour Co-founder) is often credited with being the one who first proposed the holiday. Others suggest it was Matthew Maguire (Central Labour Union Secretary). Congress eventually passed the legislation necessary to make the first Monday of September a holiday to recognize the efforts of workers everywhere.
As people who work week in, week out, I am sure we can appreciate the time to celebrate with our families on a weekend designed for fun, relaxation and bonding. In today’s busy world, we require more income to live a decent standard of life and need to balance work and family effectively. Take the day to put your work behind you and enjoy time with your loved ones!