Do you know the History of Labor Day?
Labor Day: What it Means
Labor
Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is
dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It
constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to
the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.
Labor Day Legislation
Through
the years the nation gave increasing emphasis to Labor Day. The first
governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885
and 1886. From these, a movement developed to secure state legislation. The
first state bill was introduced into the New York legislature, but the first to
become law was passed by Oregon on February 21, 1887. During the year four more
states - Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York - created the Labor
Day holiday by legislative enactment. By the end of the decade Connecticut,
Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 other states had
adopted the holiday in honor of workers, and on June 28 of that year, Congress
passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday
in the District of Columbia and the territories.
