Each year, students and workers across the country are given the first Monday of September off to celebrate Labor Day, yet few know how the holiday came to be. What once represented the progress made by union workers in the late 1800s slowly transformed into nothing more than a long weekend of road trips and barbeques, ultimately leaving out the efforts made by Americans to create a more ethical working environment.
The story of Labor day begins in the late 1700s during the start of the Industrial Revolution. Factories were booming with the creation of new items and workers as young as 6 were left to work long, strenuous shifts. Tension from the poor working conditions and low wages built up over the decades before workers decided that they had finally endured enough. Unions formed, riots and protests fought for change and the idea of a holiday to celebrate the efforts made came to fruition. It is not known exactly who came up with the idea, but it is believed that either Matthew Maguire or Peter McGuire suggested it. On Sept. 5, 1882, the first Labor Day was celebrated by over 10,000 workers that came to Union Square to protest– although the day would not be made a legal holiday for another 12 years.
On May 11th, 1894, workers at the Pullman Palace Car Company went on strike in response to wage cuts and the firing of employees who attempted to voice their concerns. Roughly a third of Pullman’s employees were associated with the American Railway Union (ARU), which in response to the strike, organized a boycott of all Pullman railroad cars in solidarity. In just a few days, 125,000 workers had quit their jobs, drawing attention to the cause as many railroads were left in disarray. On June 28th, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed a law making Labor Day a federal holiday.
Although the boycott was successful in capturing the attention of the public, Eugene Debs, president of the ARU, became worried about the vengefulness being displayed by the protesters. Despite attempts to keep the demonstrations peaceful, workers ultimately grew violent and derailed a mail train. In response, President Grover Cleveland and other members of the federal government pushed for an end to the boycott, leading to the use of an injunction– a judicial order that prevents a party from carrying out, or compelling others to carry out, a certain act– which restrained the ARU’s communication with its members. Troops were also sent to Chicago on July 3rd to stop the boycott, increasing the tension between groups until between 4 to 30 people were killed. On July 20th, the troops were finally recalled, marking the end of the demonstration. In the end, Pullman Palace lost wage money and the support of the public, but Labor Day was made an official holiday that recognizes the work of employees who advocated for change.
While road trips and barbeques are fun ways to take advantage of Labor Day’s three-day weekend, it’s important to also take time and remember the hard work done by American employees and the progress workers’ rights have made over the decades.
