As holidays go, Labor Day had one of the shortest incubation periods of all. It is believed to have started with either machinist and Central Labor Union secretary Matthew Maguire or American Federation of Labor member Peter McGuire, either way in 1882.
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Just five years later Oregon was first to make it a holiday. The federal designation was rushed through Congress in 1894 in the wake of the Pullman Strike, during which workers were killed by our country’s military and Marshals.
Originally the holiday was celebrated with a parade to demonstrate the strength and value of unions, followed by celebrations for workers and families.
Today, those employees lucky enough to get a paid day off on Labor Day are more likely to catch up on some needed rest, or relax at a backyard barbecue and bid summer farewell.
Many Hunterdon residents have more to celebrate than their neighbors; the county’s 7.7% unemployment rate in June was the lowest in the region, according to state statistics. It was lower than the state average by 1.9%.
Of course, unemployment figures don’t take into account those who have stopped searching, or those who are under-employed or working part-time when they would rather have a full work schedule.
Maybe this year Labor Day is simply about celebrating the strength and value of gainful employment.