Labor Day

It was back in May of 1882 that a young Peter Mcguire brought up the idea to celebrate a holiday for labor. It didn't take long for the idea to catch on, either.

The following September New York workers staged a parade up Broadway to Union Square. Few, if any, workers got the day off. Most were warned against marching in the parade with the threat of getting fired. Despite the warning, more than
10,000 workers showed up for the march. Led by mounted police, bricklayers in white aprons paraded with a band playing "Killarney." The marchers passed a reviewing stand crowded with Knights of Labor: a holiday was born. McGuire's holiday moved across the country as slowly as did recognition of the rights of the working man.

It was eventually signed into law and made a national holiday. Like all holidays it has lost most of its original intent. There are still a few parades, but most of us tend to see it as a great day off with little thought given to the labor movement or our past struggles.

If you'd like to read more on how labor won its day, click here. And today, while you're enjoying your lovely day off, stop and think about your place in the labor movement. We need you.

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