The History and Significance of Labor Day
Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday of September. It honors the achievements and contributions of American workers to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of the country.
- The origins of Labor Day can be traced back to the late 19th century, a time when the average American worker toiled for 12 hours a day, seven days a week, often in harsh conditions. Children as young as five were also engaged in backbreaking labor in factories, mines, and mills across the country.
- In response to these difficult working conditions, labor unions began to emerge, demanding better treatment for workers. Strikes and rallies broke out, sometimes turning violent. However, some were peaceful, including a march on September 5, 1882, in New York City, which is considered the first Labor Day parade in U.S. history.
- The holiday caught on in other industrial hubs around the country, and in 1894, Congress made Labor Day a national holiday. This decision came in the wake of the Pullman Palace Car Company strike in Chicago, which crippled railroad traffic nationwide. The federal government sent troops to break up the strike, resulting in more than a dozen workers being killed.
Today, Labor Day is celebrated with various activities, such as parades, picnics, barbecues, and fireworks displays. It marks the unofficial end of summer.
No matter how you choose to celebrate, take a moment to reflect on the sacrifices and achievements of the American worker that have shaped our nation's history and continue to drive its progress.
Today and everyday, we celebrate all of our amazing employees that are dedicated to our company and their families and our customers. They show up in extreme weather, when they are under the weather, fighting their own battles in life to fight for their right to work and truly make EXOVATIONS a better place because of their effort.
