Ever wonder why we call it Labor Day?
Say the words ‘Labor Day Weekend’ and many things come to mind: the official “end of summer as we know it” with kids back to school, shorter days, backyard barbecue’s, department store sales, and maybe just a nice day to sit in your backyard and ponder “why do we call it Labor Day?”
The first official Labor Day was celebrated in 1882 and made a National Holiday in 1884 with our nation’s congress rushing the bill through both the House and the Senate in a lightning fast 6 days according to Wikipedia! The holiday was in honor of those killed during a labor strike and was meant to appease restless workers. President Cleveland feared backlash and more unrest and officially proclaimed it a National Holiday honoring the deaths of workers killed by U.S. Marshalls and the military during the Pullman Strike.
Many of these workers put their lives on the line to fight for fair treatment in the workplace. The Pullman Strike started after workers complained while being forced to work sixteen hour days. They saw their pay reduced, their rent increased to the Pullman Company as well as the cost to buy their goods from the company increase.
Remembering our history helps us not to repeat the mistakes of the past. Keep the early pioneers in the back your mind as you enjoy a national day of rest!
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