Why We Celebrate Labor Day?

Labor Day, which is celebrated in the United States and Canada on the first Monday of every September, is a unique concept - a day off from work in honor of work itself. The initial American Labor Day took place in New York City on September 5th, 1882, where thousands of workers and their families gathered at Union Square for a day of leisure. Although it wasn't a national holiday, it was organized by a union to recognize and appreciate the hard work of laborers by granting them a rare day of rest, positioned midway between July 4th and Thanksgiving. The event encompassed picnics, a parade, and demonstrations. In addition to celebrating, the workers came together to voice their demands for fair wages, an end to child labor, and the right to form unions. During the era known as The Industrial Revolution, many jobs were arduous, unclean, and perilous. Employees worked twelve hours a day, six days a week, without enjoying benefits like vacations, healthcare, or pensions. Unfortunately, children were often engaged in manual labor rather than receiving a proper education. Some as young as ten toiled in hazardous environments such as coal mines or factories with boiling vats and perilous machinery. In an attempt to secure improved pay, shorter hours, and safer working conditions, workers in America and Canada began forming labor unions. However, the companies they worked for vehemently opposed unionization efforts and suppressed strikes. This often resulted in violent clashes between workers and business owners, with the owners often receiving support from the police or even the military. Over the subsequent years, the idea of Labor Day gained popularity in America, with official celebrations taking place in 30 states. However, the violent Haymarket Square Riot of 1886, where several police officers and workers lost their lives in Chicago, changed the course of the labor movement. Four union leaders were executed, and as a result, many labor and political groups worldwide started commemorating the event on May 1st, which became known as International Workers' Day. In 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed a law establishing Labor Day as a federal holiday in America. Interestingly, this occurred just days after he had deployed 12,000 soldiers to suppress a violent railroad strike that resulted in multiple deaths. The original September date was maintained, partly to dissociate from the more radical associations of May 1st. Canada also adopted Labor Day as a holiday in the same year. Despite the introduction of this new holiday, it took a considerable amount of time for laborers' desired changes to materialize. It wasn't until 1938, during the Great Depression when millions were unemployed, that President Franklin D. Roosevelt enacted a law mandating an eight-hour workday, a five-day workweek, and an end to child labor. These were among the first federal safeguards to protect American workers. As America and Canada celebrate Labor Day, it is customary for most children in both countries to have a day off from school. However, it's essential to remember that there was a time when every day was a labor day for children in America and Canada. Unfortunately, this remains a stark reality for millions of children worldwide even today.