For many of us, Labor Day is how we traditionally mark the end of summer and grudgingly acknowledge the beginning of fall. This week as we note the anniversary of the first nationally celebrated Labor Day on September 3, 1894, it might be interesting to note the labor issues that brought it about. Before labor unions advocated for change in American industry, there were no real limits to how many hours a day a person could work, including children. With the advent of labor unions, starting mostly in craftsmen trades, industry titans were forced to improve working conditions and limit the hours per day a person could work. Courtesy of the History Channel, here is a video explaining the origins and significance of Labor Day.
Labor Day: History of Labor Day
Labor unions often demanded change through protests, which were often dangerous. Two protests in the late nineteenth century, the Haymarket riot and the Pullman Strike both resulted in the deaths of civilians and police officers. These protests were extremely dangerous and were often treated as civil unrest by the government. Here is another video from the History Channel which tells the story of the 1902 battle between coal miners and J.P. Morgan, a titan of American industry. The miners protested for better wages and the right to unionize, which Morgan refused to acknowledge. The protest led all the way to the White House, where President Teddy Roosevelt forced Morgan and other company owners to arbitrate a settlement with the workers.
Labor Day: JP Morgan Vs. The Coal Miners
For more about the history of Labor Day, visit the United States Department of Labor site here.
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