By: Laurie A. McCarthy, Esquire
Labor Day weekend is here! Labor Day is typically celebrated across the United States with parades, picnics, barbecues, and fireworks displays. For most, this holiday means a three-day weekend, the end of summer, beginning of fall, and the start of a new school year. While this Labor Day will undoubtably be different from those in years past, the real purpose behind the holiday remains the same.
Why Do We Celebrate Labor Day?
In the late 1800s, at the height of the Industrial Revolution in the United States, the average American worked 12-hour days and seven days a week just to make a basic living. Many of these workers faced extremely unsafe working conditions (insufficient access to fresh air, sanitary facilities and no breaks). Labor unions began to grow and organize strikes, rallies and protests of the poor working conditions, wages and hours.
The First Labor Day parade in U.S. history took place in New York, on September 5, 1882, when 10,000 workers took unpaid time off to march from City Hall to Wendel’s Elm Park, the largest park in New York City at the time. The workers organized to improve the conditions of industrial labor – to improve health and safety conditions, reduce working hours, and receive fair pay for a day’s work.
Workers continued to organize and strike, which eventually led to reduced hours, improved pay, and safe working environments. Industrial work was transformed into the jobs that became the foundation for the emergence of the American middle class. Workers were finally able to earn a decent living and live a decent life.
Labor Day was established nationwide in 1894 and is a dedication to the achievements of American workers and the contributions they have made to the prosperity of the country.
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 Laurie A. McCarthy, Esquire at 610-565-5700 or at [email protected]
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