Labor Day:
Written by Vijay Bhatt for Blog Posting Labor Day 2021
In the USA, the first Monday of September is celebrated as Labor Day to celebrate and honor hardworking laborers.
Official or unofficial, the first Labor Day march, parade, picnic, and celebration was held in New York on Sept 5, 1882. Approximately, 25000 union members and their families filled Reservoir park in New York.
In the later part of 19th century labor movement and trade unions had picked up steam. Different labor groups were active and had their own days to honor hardworking labor.
There are two versions of the history of the roots of Labor Day, two theories for two gentlemen with the same last name are credited for establishing Labor Day. Some credit Secretary of Central Labor Union ( CLU) Matthew Maguire and some credit P. J McGuire, VP of American Federation of Labor( AFL).
In Sept 1882 there was a public parade organized by Central Labor Union of New York in connection with a secrete General Assembly of Knights of Labor. Matthew Maguire proposed that there should be a National Labor Day.
Another gentleman P. J McGuire was VP of AFL also said to have proposed the first Monday of September be the ideal day to celebrate due to the good weather conditions and that day falls between the two main US Public holidays of July 4th and Thanksgiving.
In 1894 US Congress made is an official federal holiday for federal employees.
May 1, 1885 ( old European May Day) is most important because on that day AFL passed a resolution of eight-hour day.
Since May 1, 1886. eight hour working has become a norm.
Written by Vijay Bhatt for Blog Posting Labor Day 2021
