Many people see Labor Day as an easy day off of school or work, or as the last day of summer. But Labor Day, a tradition that goes back to 1894, is a celebration of the achievements of American workers. It is a holiday that union workers of the time fought to receive.
In the late 1800s, the average American worked 12 hours a day, seven days a week, just to make ends meet. (To put that in perspective, the modern average American works 8.8 hours a day.) Often, children as young as 5 or 6 would work to help their families earn extra money. Working conditions were often dangerous, leading to injuries and deaths.
In 1882, 10,000-20,000 people paraded through Lower Manhattan in support of laborer’s rights. In 1886, a similar protest rally led to violence in Chicago. This led to labor organizers and socialists in other countries celebrating Workers Day on May 1, but the U.S. government showed no interest in such a holiday.
In 1893, George Pullman of the Pullman Railway Company laid off hundreds of his employees and cut wages for the rest of the workers by 30%. In response, workers went on strike, and the American Railway Union declared a boycott of all trains using Pullman cars. This strike halted rail traffic in 27 states.
While the Pullman Strike was still ongoing, Congress passed legislation that made the first Monday of September a federal holiday that recognized and celebrated labor. That holiday, Labor Day, is the holiday we still celebrate today.
Labor Day still affects many things. In Virginia, a law was repealed in 2019 that had required school districts to have their first day of school after Labor Day so families could have one more weekend to visit amusement parks in the state. In Minnesota, a similar law is still in effect, though an additional justification was given for it — it allows school age children time to show their 4-H projects at the Minnesota State Fair. Labor Day weekend also marks the beginning of many fall sports, such as football and NASCAR races.
Unions, meanwhile, still struggle. The U.S. Labor Department has rolled back Obama-era rules that made union organizing easier, placing new limits on who can and cannot join a union. In April, truck drivers and warehouse workers at Cort Furniture Rental in New Jersey were laid off and replaced with contractors — just as they were about to start a union that would have given them a chance for higher wages and better benefits.
National union membership is down to 10.3%, from 10.5% in 2018. However, Arkansas union membership is up to 5.16%, from 4.76% in 2018.
What are unions good for? To put it simply, unions make sure that workers have safe conditions, good wages, and proper benefits. According to UnionPlus, “Union employees make an average of 30% more than non-union workers.” They also have more job-related health coverage and are more likely to be guaranteed pensions. Unions also protect employees from being fired without “just cause,” unlike “at-will” employees, who can be fired at any time for any reason.
Labor Day may be over, but education never stops. Keep yourself informed on unions in your area, and see if your job has a union. Even if it doesn’t, they’re worth protecting. Without them, we could see our workforces looking more like those in the 19th century than those in the 21st century.
Categories: Opinion
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