Labor Day, which is celebrated on the first Monday in September and dates back to the late 1800’s, is a day set aside for honoring and celebrating the struggles and achievements that workers and their unions have made, and continue to make, toward establishing the American economy as the world powerhouse that it is today. According to the US Department of Labor, Labor Day is commonly known as the “workingman’s” holiday, in that it celebrates the contributions that workers across the Unites States have made to the “strength, prosperity, and well-being” of the Country.
While we tend to think about Labor Day as a uniquely American holiday, the idea of a day honoring workers has always had international appeal. It is a day that should remind us of the work achieved by unions and others to secure a better life for all, while at the same time reminding us of the work that remains to be done.
The idea of a Labor Day Holiday began with the labor movement during the United States Industrial Revolution, where many workers were working 12-hour shifts, seven days a week, and poverty was still rampant, particularly for recent immigrants, who were discriminated against and forced to endure harsh working conditions. While the evidence is not necessarily conclusive, research suggests that Labor Day was founded by Peter J. McGuire and Matthew Maguire.
Peter J. McGuire took the idea of a labor-honoring holiday to the New York Central Labor Union in May of 1882 with the intention of a celebration marked by street parade to publicly show the strength of the trade and labor organizations. Matthew Maguire, a champion of the working individual in his own right, was a leading figure in the Central Labor Union of New York who pushed for better working conditions. After being signed into law, many have been known to claim that Matthew Maguire is actually the “Father of the Labor Day Holiday.”
Over the years, Labor Day in the United States has become largely associated with the start of a new school year, the unofficial end of summer, and countless sales from retailers. But that is not the case for much of the world, where Labor Day, or Labour Day, continues to be a day of demonstrations, protests and memorials.
We should all be proud of the hard work that we do. Whether you are working in a traditional job, running your own business, or raising a family, we are all making a contribution in our own important way and should never take our hard work for granted.
From our Family at the Law Offices of DiOrio & Sereni, LLP to yours – best wishes for a blessed, safe, and happy Labor Day Holiday and Weekend!!!
The Law Firm of DiOrio & Sereni, LLP is a full-service law firm in Media, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. We strive to help people, businesses and institutions throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania solve legal problems – and even prevent legal problems before they occur. To learn more about the full range of our specific practice areas, please visit www.dioriosereni.com or contact Robert B. George, Esquire at 610-565-5700 or at [email protected].
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