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Blog PostBy Betty Stagg, LWVBC Member
Members of the Women’s Auxiliary Typographical Union march in the 1909 Labor Day parade in New York City. (U.S. Department of Labor)
Observed on the first Monday of September, Labor Day is a national holiday in the United States to celebrate the social and economic achievements of American workers. Arising out of the late 19th century labor protests about working conditions in factories, railroad, mills and mines, it gave workers a special day off. It began in 1882, quickly caught on and was made a national holiday by President Grover Cleveland in 1884. This was 20 years before the establishment of the U. S. Department of Labor. Two men with the name of Maquire were credited with the idea of Labor Day
but women were involved in the movement, and seven women have headed the Department of Labor. Beginning with Francis Perkins in 1932 (pictured right), they include Lynn Martin, Elizabeth Dole, Elaine Chou, Hilda Solis, Alexis Herman and the current Secretary of Labor - Julie Su.
but women were involved in the movement, and seven women have headed the Department of Labor. Beginning with Francis Perkins in 1932 (pictured right), they include Lynn Martin, Elizabeth Dole, Elaine Chou, Hilda Solis, Alexis Herman and the current Secretary of Labor - Julie Su.The U.S. Department of Labor, which has dedicated a web page to the history of Labor Day, offers this summary of its significance:
American labor has raised the nation’s standard of living and contributed to the greatest production the world has ever known and the labor movement has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pays tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation’s strength, freedom, and leadership – the American worker.
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